Plans to cut security at Jobcentres slammed by union

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union has written to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to express its "serious concerns" about plans for private security company G4S to cut the number of security guards across Jobcentres. 

The letter asks the DWP to stop planned reductions and restore security guards where they have already been removed, which the union says includes branches in Sudbury and Mildenhall. 

Mildenhall Jobcentre Plus services are based at Mildenhall Hub in Sheldrick Way (Image: Google maps)

A statement by the PCS Union called the planned reductions "scandalous" and said it comes at a time when public safety is "being threatened by the rise of violent activity by the far-right." 

PCS Union general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Security guards play a vital role in keeping both staff and the public safe.

"Members at Sudbury and Mildenhall have been subjected to serious incidents in the past and feel very vulnerable as a result of the closure of local police stations, meaning they can no longer rely on a swift intervention by the police.

"It is madness for DWP to be allowing G4S to remove security guards at a time when we're witnessing unprecedented social unrest."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "We take the safety and security of our staff and customers extremely seriously, ensuring all our Jobcentres have the right levels of staffing in place that they need.

"We regularly monitor security and safety using a robust risk assessment process and continue to engage with trade union colleagues on this." 

PCS Union said it is hoping to meet with DWP officials to find a solution without the need to formally ballot members. 

They added: "If a satisfactory outcome cannot be achieved, we will ballot members for industrial action." 

G4S was approached for comment, but declined.