PRISON OFFICER RETIREMENT AGE

That this House commends the commitment, bravery and dedication shown by prison officers, who face challenging, dangerous and physically demanding working conditions on a daily basis; notes that the Prisons Act 1952 confirms that a serving prison officer shall have all the powers, authority, protection and privileges of a police constable; believes that the prison service must be treated as a uniformed service alongside the police service, fire service and armed forces; regrets that the retirement age for prison officers has risen to 68, compared to 60 for members of the other uniformed services; and calls on the Government to lower the retirement age for prison officers to 60 as a matter of urgency.