Prison sex scandals among Ministry of Justice's 849 misconduct sackings since 2022

High-profile cases, such as a former HMP Wandsworth prison officer jailed for 15 months in January for engaging in sexual activity with an inmate, are included on a list of almost 850 staff sacked by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for misconduct over the past three years. The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, also reveal that 3,142 employees faced formal disciplinary measures for improper behaviour during this period, highlighting significant challenges within the department.

The MoJ, now led by Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood, issued 1,245 written warnings and 869 final written warnings to staff found breaching conduct standards. Additionally, 188 employees received verbal warnings as part of the department's efforts to tackle workplace misconduct. Further incidents this year include a February case where an HMP Five Wells officer was sentenced to 12 months in prison for an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner.

This month, another former prison officer, who pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and possession of cannabis, was sentenced after triggering 102 corruption concerns, exposing ongoing vulnerabilities in the system.

Kenny MacAulay, CEO of Acting Office, a software platform for accounting firms, commented: "Large organisations like the MoJ face formidable challenges in rooting out corruption and misconduct.

"Advanced technology is essential to combat sophisticated fraud schemes, promote transparency, and deliver meaningful value to taxpayers."

Dr Janet Bastiman, chief data scientist at Napier AI, which submitted the FOI, said: "With rising financial crime, the MoJ must uphold a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct.

"As the UK's justice hub, maintaining public trust through rigorous transparency and accountability is critical to deter criminals, money launderers, and fraudsters, ensuring suspicious activities are swiftly identified and addressed."

An MoJ spokesperson said: "These figures represent just 0.4% of our workforce. We rightly set high standards, and we weed out those whose behaviour falls below that bar."