Hi everyone
first time using this site so my apologies if I use it wrong.
my OH works in a prison and was suspended a week ago under allegations he has left 11 cell doors unsecured. He told me that he is very sure he locked them, but the doors have a second latch as an extra security measure. (I won’t go into details as obviously prison security info probably shouldn’t be posted on a public forum) but essentially they were NOT unlocked, just insecure from their eyes.
He is only five months into the job and only three weeks in this particular section of the prison. He said that he had previously asked a senior officer why those extra latches has been left open to which he replied ‘ we don’t bother with those here’ so my OH thought that this must be their protocol on this wing and didn’t bother with them either (something he says that many other officers also do). But he was then pulled into the office and suspended with pay pending investigation.
He’s obviously devastated and thinks he may get sacked. His union rep thinks he has some good mitigation behind him such as
- the fact he is brand new to that wing and was taking protocol from a senior officer, believing he was following orders.
- the fact he was not given adaquete shadowing (which he is supposed to) on his first operational week as the person they assigned to him was on leave. He therefore had to wander aimlessly and ask for information from fellow officers who have clearly misinformed him.
he’s never been in trouble before and is generally well thought of in the establishment, what do we reckon his chances are of getting away with a written or final warning instead of dismissal?
im sure this doesn’t constitute gross misconduct but perhaps serious.
first time using this site so my apologies if I use it wrong.
my OH works in a prison and was suspended a week ago under allegations he has left 11 cell doors unsecured. He told me that he is very sure he locked them, but the doors have a second latch as an extra security measure. (I won’t go into details as obviously prison security info probably shouldn’t be posted on a public forum) but essentially they were NOT unlocked, just insecure from their eyes.
He is only five months into the job and only three weeks in this particular section of the prison. He said that he had previously asked a senior officer why those extra latches has been left open to which he replied ‘ we don’t bother with those here’ so my OH thought that this must be their protocol on this wing and didn’t bother with them either (something he says that many other officers also do). But he was then pulled into the office and suspended with pay pending investigation.
He’s obviously devastated and thinks he may get sacked. His union rep thinks he has some good mitigation behind him such as
- the fact he is brand new to that wing and was taking protocol from a senior officer, believing he was following orders.
- the fact he was not given adaquete shadowing (which he is supposed to) on his first operational week as the person they assigned to him was on leave. He therefore had to wander aimlessly and ask for information from fellow officers who have clearly misinformed him.
he’s never been in trouble before and is generally well thought of in the establishment, what do we reckon his chances are of getting away with a written or final warning instead of dismissal?
im sure this doesn’t constitute gross misconduct but perhaps serious.
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