A question about becoming a prison officer

[Whengup]

Do you need vision in both eyes to pass the medical?

Bump

Why not ask the prison service recruitment team directly - under a pseudonym email if necessary?

I imagine impaired vision would be particularly detrimental in that sort of job.

I meet the British driving requirement so I'm not (legally) classed as visually impaired (but I know what you mean).

I just wondered if anyone on here may know before contacting them.

But why? Why wouldn't you ask them instead of on here?

I could say 'yes I'm in Prison Service recruitment and can categorically say that we're so desperate for staff that, quite frankly, we'll take anyone' and you'd be none the wiser as to whether or not that was a true statement.

Not picking on you OP, but that's something I find very strange about Mumsnet. The amount of questions that people ask that would be far better looking on the official website or asking the organisation in question .

Why would you want to lock people up for a living?

catinboots
I wonder if you would be asking that question if your elderly relation was mugged and robbed on the street.
If a younger member of your family had been abused by a paedophile
or if your oh or parents were killed in a hit and run ?

I am proud of the fact I worked in a prison for nine years before ( having ) to leave.
And I'm forever grateful that people are willing to take on the profession.
I'm interested to find out your take on nursing, carers, fostering , and all those jobs that must be beneath you

Don’t do it. System is in crisis. You will end up being hurt. Very likely that you have 2 new early 20s staff looking after 200 prisoners. That was ratio when I was in prison healthcare 18 m ago

@Namethecat where in my post did I say I thought being a prison officer was beneath me?

Of course I think criminals should be off the streets and punished. But I can't imagine the sort of mindset you have to have to want to lock other humans up everyday.

None is asking you to grasp the mindset catinboots. Off you trot.

Because Barbara, this is the chat section. It's just a question. You could ponder your question on literally every single thread on this entire forum. Why does anyone ask anything on mumsnet? Why ask about your children's development when you can ask your HV? Why ask a health question when you can ask your GP? Etc etc etc etc......

The mind boggles at some of these replies!

@Whengup errr don't post on a public forum if you don't want input from random people maybe???

catinboots errr don't be such an arse maybe???

I can't imagine the sort of mindset you have to have to want to lock other humans up everyday

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

..

I've googled prison and probation services for several u.k. counties and all the ones I read say you need to meet a minimum standard of eyesight in both eyes.

catinboots 9

A harsh reply to a post deserves one back to be frank. The op just asked valid question and your reply was quite sharp. I was making the point that certain occupation may not suit everyone and thank fuck people still are willing to take them on.
I would also add this to your next question on why someone would want to lock up humans every day. Do you think doctors and nurses shouldn't bother to treat people because they might die ?

Prison officers do not choose to lock up people every day for fun. Members of the public ( i.e. you, I, and your Aunt Fanny ) sit on jurys and listen to evidence to decide if the crime should result in a prison sentence.

I can't imagine the sort of mindset you have to have to want to lock other humans up everyday

@OraangeSoda is it really such an ambiguous statement? You can't understand that some people think differently from you?

Tricky I'm sure

@Namethecat sorry cat not being obtuse. But really, who would want to be a P.O. as a career choice? What is enjoyable??

I'm genuinely curious

Also @Namethecat your comparison is irrelevant and not in anyway similar