The UK government has given emergency visa extensions to hundreds of foreign prison workers, mostly from West Africa, after warnings of a serious staff shortage. The extension applies only to those already in the UK and will run until the end of 2026.
A lower salary requirement of about $42,400 will stay in place until December 2027, instead of the new $53,000 threshold, which is higher than the average prison officer starting pay of about $41,900.
The Prison Officers Association warned the higher limit could have cost prisons more than 2,500 foreign workers.
Media reports say over 700 Nigerians and about 140 Ghanaians were hired into UK prisons last year.
