The Prison Service has been ordered by race watchdogs to think again about how its relocation of 80 jobs from Corby to Leicester will affect certain groups.
The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) raised concerns over the Race Equality Impact Assessment (REIA) carried out for the move. A letter written by Prison Service director of finance Ann Beasley earlier this year, and seen by Personnel Today, admitted that the opportunity to attract more non-white workers in Leicester was a key factor.
A spokesman for the CRE told Personnel Today: “We have received a copy of the REIA from the Prison Service, and have provided detailed comments on its contents. The director-general wrote again to us last week and is committed to revising the REIA in light of our comments. A revised version will be sent to us in the next few weeks.”
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The Prison Service said it would respond to the CRE within an agreed timescale, but ruled out a U-turn on the move to Leicester.
“We’ve already signed the lease,” said a spokeswoman.
