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Government wins High Court injunction to stop prison officers' strike amid claims British jails are in 'meltdown' Government wins High Court injunction to stop prison officers' strike amid claims British jails are in 'meltdown'
(35 minutes later)
The Government has won a High Court injunction against a strike by thousands of prison officers amid claims jails are “in meltdown”. The Government has won a High Court injunction against a strike by thousands of prison officers amid claims jails are “in meltdown”.
A judge head an urgent application for an injunction to “restrain” the Prison Officers Association (POA) from inducing any form of industrial action on Tuesday. It was granted after Mr Justice Kerr heard an urgent application for the injunction to “restrain” the Prison Officers Association from “inducing any form of industrial action”.
The Ministry of Justice took the step after the union directed members to protest after talks over health and safety concerns broke down. Daniel Stilitz QC, for the Ministry of Justice, told the judge that “injunctive relief” was being sought against the POA, which was “liable as a trade union for its unlawful inducement”.
More to follow Stuart Brittenden, counsel for the union, said: “The POA's position is that the Secretary of State is in breach of their contract in failing to provide a safe place and a system of work, and as such, any instruction to them to continue working in those conditions in this environment is an unlawful one.”
The judge's order will have immediate effect with prison officers expected to return to work “forthwith”.
He said it was a “very urgent” application with evidence of up to 80 per cent of staff taking some sort ot action in the majority of prisons. “A number of incidents have occurred in prisons today and the situation is very concerning indeed”.
The Ministry of Justice took the step to seek the injunction after the union directed members to protest after talks over health and safety concerns broke down.
Justice Secretary Liz Truss called the union's position “unnecessary and unlawful” and it “will make the situation in our prisons more dangerous”.
Ms Truss said the Government is “absolutely committed” to giving prison officers and governors the support they need to do their job and keep them safe.
Up to 10,000 staff were expected to take part in the protest, which comes after a string of high profile incidents at prisons, including a riot and the escape of two inmates.
Announcing the move, the union said the “continued surge in violence and unprecedented levels of suicide and acts of self harm”, coupled with the recent alleged murder and escapes “demonstrate that the service is in meltdown”.
Press Association contributed to this report