NEW figures showing experience among prison officers has fallen to its lowest level in 15 years are a “warning siren” for the wider criminal justice system, the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said today.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that the cumulative length of service by current prison officers is now at its lowest since 2010.

POA deputy general secretary Mick Pimblett called for the introduction of a long-term workforce plan to recruit and retain more staff, saying: “This is not simply a workforce statistic — it is a warning siren for the entire criminal justice system.

“For years, the POA has been clear: you cannot run safe, stable, and rehabilitative prisons on a foundation of inexperience, high turnover, and chronic understaffing.

“Experienced officers are the backbone of our prisons. They are the ones who de-escalate violence, mentor new recruits, maintain order on the landings, and uphold the professional standards that keep both staff and prisoners safe.

“Years of pay erosion, unreasonable retirement age, unsafe working conditions, and relentless operational pressure have driven dedicated officers out of the service faster than they can be replaced.”

Grahame Morris, a Labour MP who chairs a cross-party group on justice, said: “The prison service is haemorrhaging experience, with officer resignation rates through the roof.

“We need to break this vicious circle by investing in our most precious resource, front-line prison officers.”

The Commons justice select committee called for a 15-year plan in a report published in November, with Labour MP Andy Slaughter, the committee’s chairman, saying: “The priority now must be retention of those officers who have joined the service.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said that the government had increased prison officer salaries, and resignation rates of officers were at their lowest for four years.