Female prison officers sacked

A record number of female prison officers in the UK have been dismissed for engaging in sexual relationships with male inmates, with 29 being fired in the past three years compared to only nine between 2017 and 2019. Ministry of Justice data revealed that 50 out of 124 investigations into 'inappropriate relationships' were upheld, with some officers using extreme measures, like cutting holes in their uniforms, to facilitate these acts. Linda De Sousa Abreu, a 30-year-old officer from HMP Wandsworth, pleaded guilty to misconduct after a video surfaced showing her having sex with an inmate; she claims she was coerced into the act due to threats from inmates who had accessed her personal information. Others involved were either suspended or reassigned rather than dismissed. The rise in such incidents has raised concerns about corruption within the prison system, and the Prison Service has reiterated its commitment to rooting out misconduct among staff. As the situation develops, De Sousa Abreu's sentencing is scheduled for November, where more details about her case may emerge.