ROW OVER JAIL TIE PIN BAN
A row has broken out after prison officers were told off for wearing a cancer charity's St George's Cross tie pin to work.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers told staff at Wakefield jail the English national flag could be "misinterpreted" as a racist symbol.
Officers at the top security prison had bought the pins to support a cancer charity.
They saw no harm in it but it drew raised eyebrows from inspectors who visited the prison.
In her report Ms Owers said: "We were concerned to see a number of staff wearing a flag of St George tie pin.
"While we were told that these had been bought in support of a cancer charity there was clear scope for misinterpretation.
"Prison Service Orders made clear that unauthorised badges and pins should not be worn."
Ms Owers ordered: "Staff should not wear unauthorised tie pins."
Brian Caton, of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "If the only problem the chief inspector found was tie pins carrying the Cross of St George... there can't be a lot wrong with Wakefield prison."
But Tory MP Gerard Howarth said: "What are we coming to in this country? Why shouldn't people wear their national flag with pride?"
Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten said: With our prisdons in crisis there are more important things for Ms Owers to be concentrating on."
Among the inmates at Wakefield is Soham killer Ian Huntley. It is also the jail where serial killer Harold Shipman hanged himself in January last year.
What do you make of this? Good bad idea? Discuss
A row has broken out after prison officers were told off for wearing a cancer charity's St George's Cross tie pin to work.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers told staff at Wakefield jail the English national flag could be "misinterpreted" as a racist symbol.
Officers at the top security prison had bought the pins to support a cancer charity.
They saw no harm in it but it drew raised eyebrows from inspectors who visited the prison.
In her report Ms Owers said: "We were concerned to see a number of staff wearing a flag of St George tie pin.
"While we were told that these had been bought in support of a cancer charity there was clear scope for misinterpretation.
"Prison Service Orders made clear that unauthorised badges and pins should not be worn."
Ms Owers ordered: "Staff should not wear unauthorised tie pins."
Brian Caton, of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "If the only problem the chief inspector found was tie pins carrying the Cross of St George... there can't be a lot wrong with Wakefield prison."
But Tory MP Gerard Howarth said: "What are we coming to in this country? Why shouldn't people wear their national flag with pride?"
Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten said: With our prisdons in crisis there are more important things for Ms Owers to be concentrating on."
Among the inmates at Wakefield is Soham killer Ian Huntley. It is also the jail where serial killer Harold Shipman hanged himself in January last year.
What do you make of this? Good bad idea? Discuss