Prison and Probation - Case Studies

Gary Noonan

Ranger Gary Noonan, 27, served in the Royal Irish Regiment from 1999 to 2003, becoming an anti-tank specialist, and now values the ‘interpersonal skills, team skills, high level of personal fitness and motivation to overcome all obstacles,’ that he developed in the Army. Leaving with NVQs in public services at levels 1, 2 and 3, his first civilian job was as a self-employed courier.

For the last three years, however, he has been a detention custody officer, looking after the ‘day to day welfare and activities of people detained at Colnbrook immigration removal centre whilst maintaining a secure and safe custodial environment. This involves interaction with detainees and overseeing their activities from encouraging them to attend the gym, education, visits and religious activities through to dealing with domestic issues relating to their property and family.

‘Colnbrook IRC, near Heathrow, is a secure environment dealing with the most challenging detainees whom the Border and Immigration Agency determine should be in a custodial environment. Many of those detained are awaiting removal. All officers must complete a six-week initial training course. There is annual refresher training and opportunity for career advancement for those who wish to pursue it.’

Noonan finds the job similar to the Army – ‘staff uniformity is important and abiding by rules and regulations is strict, team camaraderie is the same and strict time keeping is highly important’. He now earns a great deal more although some of the extra cash goes on increased living expenses.

Published June 08

Mark Whiting

Staff Sergeant Mark Whiting served nearly 24 years in the Army before leaving in July 2007. He finished his time in the Adjutant General’s Corps Military Provost Staff serving in the UK and Germany, and on operations in the First Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. ‘Working at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester gave me invaluable experience in how to deal with people. It developed my interpersonal skills. I achieved the custodial care NVQ 3 that has to be achieved by all new Prison Service entrants in their probationary year. I also obtained my NVQ assessor and became a control and restraint instructor.’

A ‘very useful’ Career Transition Workshop – ‘I picked up bits of information that were really helpful’ – was followed by ‘extremely well run’ first aid at work and emergency medical technicians training. An internet job search led to his current position as a prison officer, which involves: ‘The security of those who have been committed to imprisonment, their management and the detoxification of those addicted to controlled substances.

‘I really enjoy the interaction with the prisoners and using interpersonal skills to reason with people who can be aggressive. There are many similarities between the MCTC and a prison. Both hold people deprived of their liberty. The procedures are not that far from each other either. ‘Camaraderie in the Prison Service is not quite as good. It is nice to get to work though and call the boss by their first name. The difference in wages is not too bad. I start on £21,561 a year plus my London weighting of £4250. After six years I will be on the same wage as I was in the Army on about £31,000.

Published November 08