Now crisis-hit prisons see 5,000 staff stage walkout

MORE than 5,000 prison officers went on strike outside 100 jails yesterday in protest at levels of violence.

Members of the POA, the trade union for prison staff, walked out over reports officers had been beaten up, spat at and had urine thrown over them.

POA general secretary Steve Gillan said guards were protesting an ‘unprecedented decline in health and safety’.

But Justice Secretary David Gauke branded the action ‘wrong’ and ‘irresponsible’, saying it ‘does nothing’ to help reduce levels of violence.

The action had knock-on effects on court cases, with some defendants unable to be transported to hearings.

The walkout was triggered by a damning report which warned of a dangerous lack of control at HMP Bedford.

Brian Cooper, POA branch chairman, was among 50 officers picketing outside the prison, which he said was unsafe every day. He added that a rampant drugs market had contributed to ‘wholesale violence’.

The protest came to an end ‘ meaningful engagement’ with the Prisons Minister, Rory Stewart, who had described the action as unlawful.