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Prison officer protest halts court cases Protesting prison officers threatened with court action
(35 minutes later)
Court cases across England are being halted because of a protest by prison officers. The government is threatening legal action against prison staff as their protest halts court cases in England.
As many as 10,000 members of the Prison Officers Association are taking part in the action over health and safety concerns, their union has said. Up to 10,000 members of the Prison Officers Association have stopped work over health and safety concerns.
One case affected is that of Thomas Mair, who is standing trial accused of murdering MP Jo Cox. It is illegal for the profession to strike, but the POA says it is "protest action" and within their rights.
Justice Secretary Liz Truss has sent a letter threatening legal action, said the union. However, Justice Secretary Liz Truss has sent a letter threatening to take legal action as early as this afternoon if its members do not return to work.
It has not yet been revealed how many court cases have come to a standstill because of the action but high profile trials have been stopped, including that of Thomas Mair, who is accused of murdering MP Jo Cox.
Six prison governors had also been due to give evidence to a justice committee hearing on Tuesday morning but, because of the industrial action, none of them turned up.Six prison governors had also been due to give evidence to a justice committee hearing on Tuesday morning but, because of the industrial action, none of them turned up.
It has not yet been revealed how many court cases have come to a standstill because of the action.
The POA's national chairman, Mike Rolfe, said most local prisons had staff "out the front" and taking part in the protest.The POA's national chairman, Mike Rolfe, said most local prisons had staff "out the front" and taking part in the protest.
He told the BBC: "All we can do is offer assurances that our members do not take this lightly.He told the BBC: "All we can do is offer assurances that our members do not take this lightly.
"Conditions have got so extreme and so dangerous in prisons for both the prison officers and the prisoners, it cannot carry on."Conditions have got so extreme and so dangerous in prisons for both the prison officers and the prisoners, it cannot carry on.
"We need to sort this out before any more lives are lost or blood is shed.""We need to sort this out before any more lives are lost or blood is shed."
But the Ministry of Justice described the action as unjustified and "unlawful". The Ministry of Justice described the action as unjustified and "unlawful".
'Service in meltdown''Service in meltdown'
It is against the law for prison officers to strike and the Ministry of Justice is understood to have written to the union warning it will take it to court as early as this afternoon if its members do not return to work.
But Mr Rolfe said his members were taking part in health and safety meetings at the prisons and would carry on with their protest.But Mr Rolfe said his members were taking part in health and safety meetings at the prisons and would carry on with their protest.
A statement from the POA said: "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 statement from the POA said: "Chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes has resulted in staff no longer being safe, a lack of discipline and prisoners taking control of areas.
"The continued surge in violence and unprecedented levels of suicide and acts of self harm, coupled with the recent murder and escapes demonstrate that the service is in meltdown.""The continued surge in violence and unprecedented levels of suicide and acts of self harm, coupled with the recent murder and escapes demonstrate that the service is in meltdown."
Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Liz Truss 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, Ms Truss 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.
'Dangerous''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.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.
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.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".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."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.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.""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.Are you a prison officer in England? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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