Wolverhampton prison officer claims she was bullied for being pretty
A FORMER Midland prison officer was “bullied” from her job because she was “too pretty” and “glammed up”, a tribunal heard.
Amitjo Kajla is seeking a ruling for constructive unfair dismissal after leaving her job at Brinsford Prison, near Wolverhampton, in April last year.
The 22-year-old claims the Prison Service effectively sacked her from Brinsford, a male juvenile and young offenders’ institute at Featherstone, after a string of incidents forced her to resign.
She is seeking compensation from the Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
It was suggested that Miss Kajla dressed provocatively on the prison site, and that inmates would “definitely” have been able to see what she was wearing through slats in the cell doors.
Miss Kajla claimed she was called a “stupid little girl” by a senior colleague for putting her security at risk by sitting with prisoners during their “free association” period.
She added that she was mocked by staff at Brinsford Young Offenders’ Institution, in Featherstone, Staffordshire, for carrying a handbag and reprimanded for waving and saying hello to inmates.
The remarks, often made in front of inmates and other staff, made her feel harassed and humiliated, she told the tribunal. “I couldn’t sleep at night because of the bullying and harassment. I lost weight and decided I couldn’t take it any longer and resigned,” she said.
