More than 2500 foreign prison staff, the majority of them Nigerians, who were facing deportation and possible job losses, have been temporarily spared following an emergency visa extension by the UK government.
The intervention comes after changes to visa rules introduced in July put thousands of overseas prison workers at risk once their permits expired.
The policy shift had raised concerns about the possible collapse of parts of the prison system, which relies heavily on foreign labour amid staffing shortages.
According to Sky News, following lobbying by the prisons minister, Lord Timpson, and discussions with the Home Secretary and former justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, an agreement was reached to grant a one-year extension to some affected workers
It is estimated that around 2,500 people would have been impacted, many of whom are in front-facing prison officer roles.
While Mahmood had reportedly been reluctant to approve exemptions as part of efforts to reduce net migration, the extension will now allow hundreds of prison staff to remain in their roles for an additional 12 months, offering immediate relief to the overstretched prison service.
The visa crisis was triggered by changes over the summer that raised the skilled worker visa salary threshold to £41,700 annually.
This figure is significantly higher than the average starting salary for most prison officers outside London, which stands at about £33,000.
As a result, many foreign recruits were no longer eligible under the revised rules.
Public sector prisons had increasingly recruited overseas staff due to a shortage of British applicants, with workers from West Africa — mostly Nigeria — forming the largest group after UK nationals.
The temporary exemption also applies to dependents already living in the UK.
Welcoming the development, the Prison Officers Association said its members “can now go about their daily lives without the threat of removal from the country”, adding that the exemption “should be granted to all overseas workers who contribute to society”.
The Governors Association also welcomed the move but expressed reservations about its sustainability, saying it was “deeply concerned” about the policy’s “long term impact”. The group noted that affected staff were “growing in competence and confidence”, and urged ministers to consider permanent employment arrangements after the extension expires.
The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, had earlier warned that failure to resolve the issue would have had a “devastating effect” on the prison system.
The development comes amid mounting challenges within the prison service, including rising violence against staff and high-profile cases of mistaken prisoner releases.
Responding to the decision, a government spokesperson said: “Net migration has already fallen by more than two-thirds under this government. We are clear numbers must fall further as we create a migration system that is controlled and fair.
“However, public safety is the first duty of any government and we must ensure jails can continue to run safely with the right level of experienced staff. This is vital given the prison capacity crisis we inherited.”
