Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations he has received on the suitability and safety of women prison officers carrying out their duties between the ages of 60 and 68.

Prison officers need to be capable of performing specific tasks to a certain standard to ensure their safety and the safety of everyone else, including prisoners and work colleagues.

All prison officers who joined after 1 April 2001 must pass an annual fitness test in order to remain in a prison officer role. Staff who do not meet the annual fitness test standard will be provided with advice and support by a fitness assessor on achieving and maintaining the required fitness level. Following an Occupational Health (OH) referral, management can discuss and consider options for redeployment to roles that don’t require the Prison Officer fitness level.

There are many factors which determine a person’s ability to pass a fitness test which are often not determined by age, sex or gender alone. No adjustment to the fitness test is made based on age, sex or gender because they are not the determining factor on passing the test and fitness levels between employees of either sex or gender at all ages can vary. Adjustments are considered and may be offered on the advice of an occupational health practitioner.