Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers have been (a) found to have committed sexual misconduct at work and (b) dismissed for reasons of sexual misconduct in each of the last five years.

Information on the number of bands 3 to 5 prison officers who were subject to Conduct and Discipline for the charge of sexual assault/harassment are given in table 1 and the outcomes of the cases are given in Table 2 below. Figures are presented by financial years.

There is not a specific charge of ‘sexual misconduct’ and so figures for the charge of ‘sexual assault/ harassment’ are given.

The vast majority of prison officers are hardworking and honest, and we will never hesitate to take the strongest possible action against the small minority who break the law.

Table 1: Headcount of band 3-5 prison officers¹ disciplined² for charge of sexual harassment/assault, by financial year 01 April to 31 March 2017/18 - 2021/22 ^(p)

Table 2: Number of penalties imposed³ on band 3-5 prison officers¹ disciplined² for sexual harassment/assault, by financial year 01 April to 31 March 2017/18 - 2021/22 (p)

Notes:

1. Band 3-5 Officers includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officers (incl. specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officers, and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.

2. Staff with at least one conduct and discipline case concluded during the period. Conduct and discipline cases are defined as where a penalty has been imposed on a member of HMPPS staff for a reason of conduct.

3. A dismissal case is defined as where at least one of the charges relating to an individual is recommended for dismissal. Information on the outcomes of any appeal is not included.

4. Other penalties are only counted here where dismissal is not recommended. A finding of dismissal, in combination with other penalties is counted as a dismissal and not other penalty.

5. A case can result in more than one penalty and staff have been counted once for each penalty imposed against them.