This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37984479

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 14 Version 15
Court orders halt to prison protests Prison officers end protest after court order
(about 1 hour later)
Prison officers have been ordered to end a 24-hour protest and return to work after a High Court injunction was granted against the action. Prison officers have returned to work after a High Court injunction ordered them to end a 24-hour protest.
Up to 10,000 prison officers in England and Wales stopped work over claims of a "surge in violence" in jails.Up to 10,000 prison officers in England and Wales stopped work over claims of a "surge in violence" in jails.
It is illegal for officers to strike, but the Prison Officers Association argued the government had not provided safe working conditions. Granting the injunction, Mr Justice Kerr said prison officers' action had created a "very concerning" situation.
However, the judge said the case for an injunction was strong. The Prison Officers Association said it had achieved its aim of securing a meeting with Justice Secretary Liz Truss within the next 48 hours.
BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani says the POA is not yet thought to have issued a formal order to its members to return to work and officers remain outside prisons across the country. The union said it was in the process of informing its members.
How dangerous are our prisons? It is illegal for officers to strike, but the Prison Officers Association (POA) argued the government had not provided safe working conditions.
Granting the injunction, Mr Justice Kerr said there was evidence 80% of staff had taken some sort of action in most prisons. Mr Justice Kerr said there was evidence 80% of staff had taken some sort of action in most prisons.
"A number of incidents have occurred in prisons today and the situation is very concerning indeed," he said."A number of incidents have occurred in prisons today and the situation is very concerning indeed," he said.
'I've been attacked with knives'
How dangerous are our prisons?
The POA directed its members to take action after talks with the government over health and safety concerns broke down.The POA directed its members to take action after talks with the government over health and safety concerns broke down.
'Ramping up''Ramping up'
In court, the union's lawyer cited a series of incidents he said had occurred in the last two weeks, including 30 assaults by inmates on officers, 14 hostage situations and 13 absconds, attempted escapes or escapes.In court, the union's lawyer cited a series of incidents he said had occurred in the last two weeks, including 30 assaults by inmates on officers, 14 hostage situations and 13 absconds, attempted escapes or escapes.
But the government's lawyers accused the POA of "seeking to take over the control of jails from governors and run them on a controlled lock-down basis".But the government's lawyers accused the POA of "seeking to take over the control of jails from governors and run them on a controlled lock-down basis".
Daniel Stilitz QC, for the Ministry of Justice, said the "danger" was "ramping up" with "each hour that goes by with the prisons unmanned".Daniel Stilitz QC, for the Ministry of Justice, said the "danger" was "ramping up" with "each hour that goes by with the prisons unmanned".
The protests affected prisoner transport and brought an unknown number of court cases to a standstill, including that of Thomas Mair, who is accused of murdering MP Jo Cox.The protests affected prisoner transport and brought an unknown number of court cases to a standstill, including that of Thomas Mair, who is accused of murdering MP Jo Cox.
Six prison governors had been due to give evidence to a Commons justice committee on Tuesday morning but, because of the action, the hearing was postponed.Six prison governors had been due to give evidence to a Commons justice committee on Tuesday morning but, because of the action, the hearing was postponed.
Speaking in the Commons earlier, Justice Secretary Liz Truss said prison officers did a "tough and difficult job", but the POA had failed to respond to government proposals to tackle their concerns. Speaking in the Commons earlier, Ms Truss said prison officers did a "tough and difficult job", but the POA had failed to respond to government proposals to tackle their concerns.
"The union's position is unnecessary and unlawful and it will make the situation in our prisons more dangerous," she told MPs."The union's position is unnecessary and unlawful and it will make the situation in our prisons more dangerous," she told MPs.
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said the events were the "clearest sign yet of... a crisis" in prisons and the government had "lost control".Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said the events were the "clearest sign yet of... a crisis" in prisons and the government had "lost control".
The POA says "chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes" have "resulted in staff no longer being safe, a lack of discipline and prisoners taking control of areas".The POA says "chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes" have "resulted in staff no longer being safe, a lack of discipline and prisoners taking control of areas".
The union's national chairman, Mike Rolfe, said members did not take the action lightly, but the service was "in meltdown" and things had to change "before any more lives are lost or blood is shed." The union's national chairman, Mike Rolfe, said members did not take the action lightly, but the service was "in meltdown" and things had to change "before any more lives are lost or blood is shed".
The Prison Governors Association said it recognised the "extremely tough conditions" faced by officers, but it would not condone the action and the "significant additional risk this places all staff and prisoners under".The Prison Governors Association said it recognised the "extremely tough conditions" faced by officers, but it would not condone the action and the "significant additional risk this places all staff and prisoners under".
It said it had held meetings with Ms Truss and was "convinced that safety and decency was at the top of her agenda".It said it had held meetings with Ms Truss and was "convinced that safety and decency was at the top of her agenda".
Earlier this month, she unveiled a White Paper detailing £1.3bn investment in new prisons over the next five years, including plans for 2,100 extra prison officers, drug tests for inmates on entry and exit from prisons, and more autonomy for governors.Earlier this month, she unveiled a White Paper detailing £1.3bn investment in new prisons over the next five years, including plans for 2,100 extra prison officers, drug tests for inmates on entry and exit from prisons, and more autonomy for governors.
Analysis: Danny Shaw, home affairs correspondent
Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is the piece of legislation that in effect bans prison officers from taking industrial action.
It says ministers can bring legal proceedings against anyone who "induces" a prison officer to "withhold" their services or "commit a breach of discipline".
The last time a prison "strike" ended up in the courts was in 2007 - following a dispute about pay. A legal injunction designed to stop the action was granted and extended the following year.
In 2012, when prison officers walked out over pension changes, along with other public sector workers, ministers threatened to go the courts but never did.
Since then, a series of short union "meetings" outside jails have been held, at various times, but none has resulted in legal proceedings. Until today.
The protest began at midnight and comes after multiple high-profile incidents at prisons across England.The protest began at midnight and comes after multiple high-profile incidents at prisons across England.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder after Jamal Mahmoud died after being stabbed at Pentonville jail on 18 October in an attack which left two others injured.Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder after Jamal Mahmoud died after being stabbed at Pentonville jail on 18 October in an attack which left two others injured.
And earlier this month prisoners caused almost £1m of damage during a riot at Bedford prison.And earlier this month prisoners caused almost £1m of damage during a riot at Bedford prison.
Days later at HMP Isle of Wight, an inmate cut a prison officer's throat with a razor blade on the way back to his cell.Days later at HMP Isle of Wight, an inmate cut a prison officer's throat with a razor blade on the way back to his cell.