PRISON OFFICER RETIREMENT AGE

That this House recognises the important role fulfilled by prison officers in the criminal justice system and the physical and often dangerous nature of their work; further recognises that prison officers perform a vital front line role akin to other first response and emergency services; notes with concern that the retirement age for prison officers remains in line with the state pension age; and calls for prison officers' retirement age to be lowered to 60, bringing it into line with that of their colleagues in the police force, fire service and armed forces.