Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers have been sacked in the past five years having been found guilty of misconduct in public office.

Between 01 January 2021 and 05 October 2026, 99 operational Bands 3-5 prison colleagues were convicted for Misconduct in Public Office which is mandatory grounds for immediate dismissal, 78 of which are the grade titled “Prison Officer”. This figure may include colleagues who resigned prior to their dismissal meeting after their conviction or who were dismissed for other grounds prior to dismissal for this conviction.

For context, HMPPS employed 22,001 FTE Band 3-5 prison officers as at 30 June 2026. The 99 convictions recorded between January 2021 and October 2026 are equivalent to around 0.5% of the current operational prison officer population and indicate that those convicted of Misconduct in Public Office represent a very small minority of staff.

While most prison staff are honest and work tirelessly to keep the public safe, our Counter Corruption Unit (CCU) and robust vetting processes proactively detect, disrupt and deter the activities of those suspected of corruption. Where officers fall below our high standards, we do not hesitate to take robust action.