Prison staff disciplined over Poppy Appeal whip round

Nov 2 2007

A guard inside Liverpool Prison (158)

TWO LIVERPOOL prison officers face disciplinary action for collecting money for a Remembrance Sunday tribute.

Walton Jail warders Steve Baines and Paul Leigh have been warned they are in breach of prison rules because of the £400 staff whip round.

Traditionally the prison has paid for a wreath to be laid at Liverpool’s Remembrance service at St John’s Gardens by uniformed off duty officers.

Officers and prisoners died when the prison was bombed in World War II.

And many prison officers are ex-military or have relatives and friends still serving in the armed forces.

In previous years the £100 bill for a wreath and transport costs has come from public funds.

However, this year governor Alan Brown, who is attending the Remembrance Sunday service, said the prison would not foot the bill.

So, Mr Baines and Mr Leigh, who are Prison Officers Association representatives, organised a staff collection instead.

The extra money was earmarked for a donation to charities such as the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

But this week they were warned in a letter from Mr Brown that their collection was in breach of prison rules.

They were told to hand the money over to the prison so it could be converted into a cheque from HMP Liverpool.

The pair, who have unblemished work records and 57 years’ service between them, are refusing to comply. despite it putting themselves at risk of being formally disciplined.

Mr Baines said: "Why should HMP Liverpool appear to have paid for this tribute when in fact they refused to."This is not something we want to have a fight over but if it comes to disciplinary action then so be it."

A spokeswoman for HMP Liverpool said that as a wreath: "Every year the Prison Service lays a wreath at the cenotaph in London on behalf of all members of the prison service. Prison Service money is obviously public money and as a wreath will already have been laid in London by the service, it would not be repeated locally.