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Prison staff return after walkout Prison staff return after walkout
(about 2 hours later)
Prison officers have returned to work at six jails in Yorkshire after walking out in support of two colleagues who had been suspended.Prison officers have returned to work at six jails in Yorkshire after walking out in support of two colleagues who had been suspended.
About 400 staff initially walked out at Lindholme and Moorlands prisons near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and at Everthorpe jail in East Yorkshire.About 400 staff initially walked out at Lindholme and Moorlands prisons near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and at Everthorpe jail in East Yorkshire.
They were joined later by another 600 officers at New Hall, Wakefield and Wetherby jails in West Yorkshire.They were joined later by another 600 officers at New Hall, Wakefield and Wetherby jails in West Yorkshire.
They went back after the Prison Service agreed to review the suspensions.They went back after the Prison Service agreed to review the suspensions.
The walkouts happened when two officers were suspended at Lindholme, said the Prison Officers' Association (POA).The walkouts happened when two officers were suspended at Lindholme, said the Prison Officers' Association (POA).
POA national vice chairman Steve Cox said the officers were suspended for remarks made during a disciplinary hearing into the dismissal of a female officer.POA national vice chairman Steve Cox said the officers were suspended for remarks made during a disciplinary hearing into the dismissal of a female officer.
We are confident that the governor at Lindholme has acted in accordance with HM Prison Service policies and disciplinary procedures Ministry of Justice statement By taking this action they put the safety of the public, staff, and the prisoners at risk Ministry of Justice statement
He said she had been sacked last month for allegedly assaulting a male prisoner who was being restrained, an allegation which she and her colleagues denied.He said she had been sacked last month for allegedly assaulting a male prisoner who was being restrained, an allegation which she and her colleagues denied.
The unofficial action ended after five hours when the deputy dircetor general of the Prison Service, Michael Spurr, agreed to look into the matter on Friday. The unofficial action ended after five hours when the deputy director general of the Prison Service, Michael Spurr, agreed to look into the matter on Friday.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We will not comment on the detail of the ongoing investigation. A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "This industrial action by members of the POA was simply unacceptable.
"By taking this action they put the safety of the public, staff, and the prisoners at risk.
"When staff are suspended pending disciplinary action, there is a clear process for the individual to lodge an appeal supported by their trades union."
She said the ministry would not comment on the detail of the ongoing investigation at Lindholme.
'Last straw'
"However, we are confident that the governor at Lindholme has acted in accordance with HM Prison Service policies and disciplinary procedures."However, we are confident that the governor at Lindholme has acted in accordance with HM Prison Service policies and disciplinary procedures.
"If the Prison Officers' Association have any issues with the way he has conducted this disciplinary procedure there are existing channels that they can use to raise this with him.""If the Prison Officers' Association have any issues with the way he has conducted this disciplinary procedure there are existing channels that they can use to raise this with him."
POA national executive officer Joe Simpson said the suspensions were "the last straw" for officers who were angry at the way they were being treated by prison management.POA national executive officer Joe Simpson said the suspensions were "the last straw" for officers who were angry at the way they were being treated by prison management.
"Members of staff are currently outside the jail having withdrawn their labour as individuals," he said."Members of staff are currently outside the jail having withdrawn their labour as individuals," he said.
"They walked out at 1230 after a branch meeting."They walked out at 1230 after a branch meeting.
"We are hoping senior management will come to their senses and decide they do not want this dispute to go on.""We are hoping senior management will come to their senses and decide they do not want this dispute to go on."