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| Prison officers halt work over safety fears, union says | Prison officers halt work over safety fears, union says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of prison officers in England have stopped work amid health and safety concerns, their union has said. | Thousands of prison officers in England have stopped work amid health and safety concerns, their union has said. |
| The Prison Officers Association said up to 10,000 members would take part in the day of protest, which would be "interpreted as a strike", after talks with the government broke down. | The Prison Officers Association said up to 10,000 members would take part in the day of protest, which would be "interpreted as a strike", after talks with the government broke down. |
| It said members would provide only emergency cover to protect prisoners' well-being. | It said members would provide only emergency cover to protect prisoners' well-being. |
| The Ministry of Justice described the action as unjustified and "unlawful". | The Ministry of Justice described the action as unjustified and "unlawful". |
| 'Volatile and dangerous' | 'Volatile and dangerous' |
| The protest began at midnight and comes after multiple high profile incidents at prisons across England, including an alleged murder, a riot and two inmates escaping from Pentonville prison in London. | The protest began at midnight and comes after multiple high profile incidents at prisons across England, including an alleged murder, a riot and two inmates escaping from Pentonville prison in London. |
| 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. | |
| Prison officers are technically banned from going on strike but in 2012 they took part in walkouts over pension reforms. | Prison officers are technically banned from going on strike but in 2012 they took part in walkouts over pension reforms. |
| A union spokesman said: "The POA has consistently raised the volatile and dangerous state of prisons, as chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes has resulted in staff no longer being safe, a lack of discipline and prisoners taking control of areas." | A union spokesman said: "The POA has consistently raised the volatile and dangerous state of prisons, as chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes has resulted in staff no longer being safe, a lack of discipline and prisoners taking control of areas." |
| 'Disappointing and unnecessary' | |
| Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a White Paper detailing £1.3bn investment in new prisons over the next five years, and plans for 2,100 extra officers, drug tests and more autonomy for governors. | Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a White Paper detailing £1.3bn investment in new prisons over the next five years, and plans for 2,100 extra officers, drug tests and more autonomy for governors. |
| But Dave Todd, POA representative for London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, said he felt more vulnerable walking the landings in prisons than he had walking the streets of Northern Ireland during his time in the Army in the early 1990s. | |
| National Offender Management Service chief executive Michael Spurr agreed there were "serious issues about safety in prisons". | |
| But he added: "That's exactly the sort of conversations we were having with the POA. That's why this action is just so disappointing, unnecessary and dangerous." | |
| An MoJ spokesman said: "We have been engaged in constructive talks with the POA over the last two weeks and have provided a comprehensive response to a range of health and safety concerns. | |
| "We have well-established contingencies in place to manage prisons and keep the public safe, but we are clear that this constitutes unlawful industrial action, and we will seek remedy in the courts." | |
| Are you a prison officer in England? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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