Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Ensure all prison workers are issued protective gear during this pandemic
Closed
619 signatures
What the petition asks
Prison officers must be equipped with government-issued protective gear to ensure their safety when working in close proximity with inmates and other members of staff. This equipment is rightfully being issued to frontline NHS workers and this courtesy should now be extended to prison staff also.
Prison officers are first responders, often having to give CPR and other forms of contact assistance to someone having a medical emergency.
Prison officers are firefighters, often rescuing people from smoke-filled cells and communal areas, putting their own safety at risk in the process.
Prison officers perform a service that never stops. Even in a global pandemic, prisons cannot close and prison officers are continuing to go to work and fulfil this vital front-line service.
Prison officers are firefighters, often rescuing people from smoke-filled cells and communal areas, putting their own safety at risk in the process.
Prison officers perform a service that never stops. Even in a global pandemic, prisons cannot close and prison officers are continuing to go to work and fulfil this vital front-line service.
Timeline
| 11 May 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 11 Nov 2020 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
619
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
11 May 2020
Closed
11 Nov 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.