UK Prison Faces First Zero-Hours Custody Officer Recruitment Amid Staffing Crisis

LONDON: A privately operated prison in England is seeking to recruit custody officers on a flexible, task-based basis, prompting criticism from prison officers’ unions and renewed political pressure on Prime Minister Andy Burnham over the country’s worsening prison capacity and staffing crisis.

HMP Millsike, a Category C prison near York operated by outsourcing company Mitie, has reportedly approved recruitment for prisoner escort roles offering £25 an hour. The proposed positions would involve escorting prisoners between prisons, courts and medical appointments—duties currently performed by full-time prison officers.

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has urged the government to intervene, arguing that the introduction of casualised labour in the prison system could undermine security, stability and professional standards. The union said the move was particularly concerning at a time when prisons are already struggling to recruit and retain sufficient permanent staff.

Millsike, a £400 million facility designed to accommodate up to 1,500 prisoners, currently has around 350 vacant cells because of staffing shortages, according to prison sources. The prison began receiving inmates in March 2025 but has faced scrutiny over its management and security arrangements.

Recruitment advertisements placed by the Sangfroid Group on behalf of Mitie describe the positions as suitable for former members of the armed forces, emergency services and prison service. Successful candidates would receive seven weeks of training and could either undertake regular rotational work or join a contingent workforce for ad hoc assignments.

Mitie has rejected the characterization of the arrangement as a zero-hours contract, saying the workers would be employed as “contingent workers” through Sangfroid Group, which would be responsible for their terms and conditions. The company said HMP Millsike was operating according to staffing plans agreed with the Ministry of Justice and remained focused on maintaining a safe and secure environment.

The government said prison officer contracts would remain compliant with employment law and emphasized that it was working to address a capacity crisis inherited by the current administration. Officials said the government was pursuing plans to create 14,000 additional prison places, with 3,200 already delivered.

The controversy comes as England and Wales face a shortage of more than 1,600 prison officers. At the same time, the government is under pressure to manage overcrowding and its planned prisoner early-release programme, which has generated controversy over the potential release of serious offenders.

HMP Millsike has also faced previous concerns over security. An Independent Monitoring Board report raised concerns about inconsistent gate security, including instances in which doors and gates were reportedly left open.

The dispute highlights the difficult balance facing the British government as it seeks to expand prison capacity while addressing staffing shortages. The proposed use of flexible custody officers is likely to remain controversial as ministers attempt to relieve overcrowding without compromising prison security and operational standards.