Tensions rising over Corrections Victoria’s prison staff ‘beard ban’

VICTORIAN prison staff are looking to religion in a bid to save their facial fuzz as tensions rise over the controversial new behind-bars beard ban.

FACIAL hair is growing ­tension among staff at the Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Insiders say those who turn up with stubble or whiskers are sentenced to a shave. Some are even ordered home to do it.

A clean-shaven policy came into effect last week, prompting a wave of complaints.

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The demand for a fresh-faced workforce is to ensure “fairness”. Those who fight fires in prisons are told beards, big moustaches and long sideburns prevent a proper seal with breathing apparatus.

“Management are standing at the front door arbitrarily sending people home or down to the supermarket to get shavers,” one prison officer said.

“Staff are upset. The whole thing is a shambles.”

VICTORIAN PRISON STAFF TOLD TO SHAVE UNDER BEARD BAN

A clean-shaven policy came into effect last week at Melbourne Assessment Prison.

Corrections Victoria has now banned all staff from those styles, except those who have whiskers for religious reasons. Some are now getting support from religious leaders in order to keep their fuzz.

“People are getting exemptions from doctors and from religious orders like imams to keep their beards,” said the prison officer.

The Community and Public Sector Union, which represents prison staff, said the policy amounted to “total dictatorship” by Corrections Victoria, but that workers were powerless to resist.

“There has been a lot of disquiet since the order was issued. But unfortunately if staff want to keep their job, they have to keep turning up to work fresh-faced,” the CPSU’s Julian Kennelly said.

The union unsuccessfully fought the “intrusive’ policy for two years, and sought legal advice to prevent the blanket ban.

“We couldn’t stop it. Workers can huff and puff and blow the house down but they can’t do anything about it,” said Mr Kennelly.

A Corrections Victoria spokesperson said the policy ensures all prison workers — who are trained as first responders — will be ready to assist in case of emergency.

Tensions are rising at Melbourne Assessment Prison over enforcement of the beard ban. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“We believe the new arrangements are fairer for everyone, meaning that all relevant operational staff — not just those with acceptable facial hair — are able to don breathing apparatus and respond to fires,” the spokesperson said.

More than a dozen Victoria Police officers unsuccessfully challenged the force’s beard ban several years ago.

Officers argued the ban was unfair on grounds including that it made them less attractive and was against the religious beliefs of some, and that the guidelines caused them stress and anxiety.

But in 2014, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found the ban was not discriminatory, a ruling upheld by the Supreme Court the following year.

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