About us

We give independent advice on pay for governors, operation managers, prison officers and support grades in the England and Wales Prison Service, and equivalent posts in Northern Ireland.

Who we are

The Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) is made up of a number of individuals who have senior-level experience of handling pay and other matters, both in the private and public sectors. The PSPRB also includes an economist member, a member with a Northern Ireland background and a member with a trade union background.

Our current members are:

  • Tim Flesher CB (Chair)
  • Luke Corkill
  • Mary Carter
  • Nigel Cotgrove
  • Judith Gillespie CBE
  • Raj Jethwa
  • Roy Grant

Responsibilities

We are responsible for providing independent advice on the pay of:

  • governing governors and operational managers, prison officers and support grades in the England and Wales Prison Service
  • governors, prison officers, support and prisoner escorting and court custody service grades in the Northern Ireland Prison Service

When reaching our recommendations, we consider:

  • the need to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified staff taking into account the specific needs of the Prison Service in England and Wales and the Northern Ireland Prison Service
  • regional/local variations in labour markets and their effects on the recruitment and retention of staff
  • relevant legal obligations on the Prison Service in England and Wales and the Northern Ireland Prison Service, including anti-discrimination legislation regarding age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and belief and disability
  • government policies for improving the public services, including the requirement to meet Prison Service output targets for the delivery of services
  • the funds available to the Prison Service in England and Wales and the Northern Ireland Prison Service as set out in the government’s departmental expenditure limits and government’s inflation target

We also take into account:

  • the competitiveness of the Prison Service in England and Wales with the private sector
  • any differences in terms and conditions of employment between the public and private sectors taking account of the broad employment package including relative job security
  • the economic and other evidence submitted by the government, staff and professional representatives and others

Our reports and recommendations for the Prison Service in England and Wales are submitted to:

  • the Prime Minister
  • the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
  • the Chief Executive Officer of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service as head of the Prison Service Executive Agency

Reports and recommendations for the Northern Ireland Prison Service are submitted to:

  • the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice
  • the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service as head of the Executive Agency

Code of practice

Our code of practice is included in our governance.

Corporate information

Access our information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme.

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