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Prison officers suspend planned protests over violence behind bars Prison officers suspend planned protests over violence behind bars
(35 minutes later)
Prison officers have suspended plans to hold meetings outside jails across England and Wales on Wednesday to protest at the levels of violence behind bars. Prison officers have suspended plans to hold meetings outside jails across England and Wales on Wednesday in protest against the levels of violence behind bars.
The justice secretary, Liz Truss, has agreed to meet the Prison Officers Association (POA) on Wednesday and to start urgent talks on health and safety inside prisons and serious problems in the recruitment and retention of staff.The justice secretary, Liz Truss, has agreed to meet the Prison Officers Association (POA) on Wednesday and to start urgent talks on health and safety inside prisons and serious problems in the recruitment and retention of staff.
Truss gave a clear hint to MPs on Tuesday that she would announce fresh measures to boost prison staff when she publishes her major prison safety and reform white paper on Thursday.Truss gave a clear hint to MPs on Tuesday that she would announce fresh measures to boost prison staff when she publishes her major prison safety and reform white paper on Thursday.
Michael Spurr, the chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, has agreed to authorise hour-long union branch meetings to take place inside every prison in England and Wales on Wednesday to discuss specific safety concerns that officers have.Michael Spurr, the chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, has agreed to authorise hour-long union branch meetings to take place inside every prison in England and Wales on Wednesday to discuss specific safety concerns that officers have.
Spurr has written to the POA asking the organisation to withdraw its circular asking for meetings, telling them that prison governors will “engage fully with legitimate concerns and take all reasonable action and appropriate action in response”.Spurr has written to the POA asking the organisation to withdraw its circular asking for meetings, telling them that prison governors will “engage fully with legitimate concerns and take all reasonable action and appropriate action in response”.
The POA, which is banned by law from taking industrial action, had asked all its branches to hold emergency meetings outside every jail before the morning unlock on Wednesday. Under the plans they were to “retreat to a place of safety” if managers tried to enforce unsafe working practices when they went to work.The POA, which is banned by law from taking industrial action, had asked all its branches to hold emergency meetings outside every jail before the morning unlock on Wednesday. Under the plans they were to “retreat to a place of safety” if managers tried to enforce unsafe working practices when they went to work.
The decision by the prison officers’ union followed the publication of official statistics on violence in jails last Thursday, which showed that assaults on officers and inmates have reached 65 a day amid record levels of prisoner suicides and self-harm. Staffing levels in prisons have been cut by 30% since 2010.The decision by the prison officers’ union followed the publication of official statistics on violence in jails last Thursday, which showed that assaults on officers and inmates have reached 65 a day amid record levels of prisoner suicides and self-harm. Staffing levels in prisons have been cut by 30% since 2010.
Steve Gillan, general secretary of the POA, said the union had decided to suspend rather than withdraw its circular saying the levels of violence had reached completely unacceptable levels putting the safety of prison officers at risk. “If you do not have enough staff on the landings then problems such as prisoners not being able to get enough clean shorts or pillow cases will cause all sorts of strife,” he said.Steve Gillan, general secretary of the POA, said the union had decided to suspend rather than withdraw its circular saying the levels of violence had reached completely unacceptable levels putting the safety of prison officers at risk. “If you do not have enough staff on the landings then problems such as prisoners not being able to get enough clean shorts or pillow cases will cause all sorts of strife,” he said.
In the Commons the justice secretary told MPs that last week’s violence statistics showed “the very serious issues we have in our prisons, including a 43% rise in the number of attacks on officers. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to tackle it. I have already announced an investment of £14m in 10 of our most challenging prisons, and I shall say more with the launch of our white paper shortly.”In the Commons the justice secretary told MPs that last week’s violence statistics showed “the very serious issues we have in our prisons, including a 43% rise in the number of attacks on officers. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to tackle it. I have already announced an investment of £14m in 10 of our most challenging prisons, and I shall say more with the launch of our white paper shortly.”
Truss said there were a number of factors behind the unacceptable levels of violence, including the trade behind bars in new psychoactive substances, but she did acknowledge a clear link with staffing levels. “I acknowledge that there is an issue with staffing, which is why I have already taken steps in 10 of the most challenging prisons to increase staffing levels, and why we are due to do more in the white paper,” she said.Truss said there were a number of factors behind the unacceptable levels of violence, including the trade behind bars in new psychoactive substances, but she did acknowledge a clear link with staffing levels. “I acknowledge that there is an issue with staffing, which is why I have already taken steps in 10 of the most challenging prisons to increase staffing levels, and why we are due to do more in the white paper,” she said.