Meet the Yorkshire couple who ditched previous careers for new roles as prison officers

Now the 29-year-olds are encouraging others to join the prison service, reflecting on how it not only helps to keep the public safe but supports prisoner rehabilitation, helps to reduce reoffending and tackles a cycle of crime.

Rebecca, who is originally from County Durham, previously worked in private healthcare. She now works as an interventions facilitator, helping prisoners to change their behaviour and rehabilitate before release.

She says: “We wanted to live in a more rural area and we’re renting a house nearby. I have family members in the north-east who have worked in prisons who told me what a great career it can be.

"I worked with teenagers with special education needs previously, so there are some transferrable skills. We’re engaged and planning to get married in the village, and we’d love to stay and settle down in this area. It’s a great place to live and work.”

Desmond worked in healthcare with ex-offenders in his previous career. He was researching the prison officer role when he became aware of the opportunity to work at HMP Stocken.

He says: “I wanted to see things from a broader perspective I thought Rebecca would need some convincing after I applied first, but she was really open to the idea.

“The people I work with are really helpful. Everyone is approachable. We enjoy the job security and there are so many pathways for progression.”

HMP Stocken is a category C prison, a training and resettlement prisons which gives inmates the opportunity to develop their own skills so they can find work and resettle back into the community on release.

The Governor of HMP Stocken, Russ Truman, started as a prison officer himself 30 years ago. He says Desmond and Rebecca have “settled into prison life well”. “I hope more potential recruits consider the option of joining us at HMP Stocken, and positively influence lives to protect the public.”

The First Time Prison Officer Recruitment Scheme is for those applying for their first prison officer role who are happy to work away from home.

People can apply for roles in busy prisons most in need of officers that are at least 75 minutes or more from where they currently live. After 23 months, they can decide whether to stay at the prison permanently or move to one that’s nearer to their home.

For more information, visit prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/prison-officer/first-time-prison-officer-recruitment-scheme