Graduate call for prison officers - graduate jobs

Prison officers should all be graduates, a prison reform campaigner has claimed.

Howard League for Penal Reform director Frances Cook said eight weeks of training for officers is not enough, and added that recruits should ideally be graduates in subjects such as criminology, prison law, or sociology.

She argues that training for prison officers should be on a par with professions such as teaching or nursing.

Ms Cook said higher-qualified staff would help prisoners with mental health or drug problems, and could help cut reoffending rates.

She said: "The prison officer currently has to help prisoners with everything from housing to finances and from detoxification to anger management, all within a horribly complex framework of legislation."

"Eight weeks is not enough time to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil this hugely challenging and complicated role."

In response, the Prison Officers Association said personal qualities, not qualifications, helped make a good prison officer.