Prison officer fairly dismissed for sexual harassment

A tribunal has heard that a female prison officer, Ms Hayes, was fairly dismissed for a series of incidents that amounted to sexual harassment of her colleagues.

Hayes was dismissed from her position at HMP Moorland in South Yorkshire, where she worked from July 2018 until May 2025, after filing a claim of unfair dismissal.

She was subject to the National Offender Management Service's conduct and discipline policy, which stated that staff were expected to meet high standards of professional and personal conduct and could result in dismissal from the service.

Hayes had been on maternity leave when she returned to work and claimed her mental health was fragile. Despite these claims, the judge found that Hayes' dismissal was an appropriate punishment and dismissed her for gross misconduct.