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| HMP Liverpool guards strike after colleague sacked | HMP Liverpool guards strike after colleague sacked |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| One hundred prisoner officers at HMP Liverpool have walked out after a guard was sacked for a "pre-emptive strike" on an inmate. | One hundred prisoner officers at HMP Liverpool have walked out after a guard was sacked for a "pre-emptive strike" on an inmate. |
| The officer, who has 20 years of experience, was forced to act during an "unsafe" incident, the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said. | The officer, who has 20 years of experience, was forced to act during an "unsafe" incident, the Prison Officers' Association (POA) said. |
| He was suspended at the time before being sacked at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday. | He was suspended at the time before being sacked at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday. |
| The government is seeking an injunction to end the "unlawful" walk-out. | |
| Members refused to attend work following a meeting on Thursday morning. Officers told the BBC staff from other prisons were being drafted in to serve meals and distribute medicine at the jail. | Members refused to attend work following a meeting on Thursday morning. Officers told the BBC staff from other prisons were being drafted in to serve meals and distribute medicine at the jail. |
| The Prison Service said contingency plans had been put in place and the prison was secure. | |
| Inmates were locked in their cells and officers said it was unlikely any HMP Liverpool prisoners would be appear at court proceedings. | Inmates were locked in their cells and officers said it was unlikely any HMP Liverpool prisoners would be appear at court proceedings. |
| The union's branch committee said it "no longer felt safe or confident" in the training members had been given after the governor refused to accept the use of an "approved method" of restraint was justified. | |
| POA spokesman Glyn Travis said the incident happened last year and disciplinary proceedings ended on Wednesday with the officer's dismissal. | POA spokesman Glyn Travis said the incident happened last year and disciplinary proceedings ended on Wednesday with the officer's dismissal. |
| The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing by a police investigation into the incident, said the POA. | |
| Talking about the incident, Mr Travis said: "He felt he and his colleagues were unsafe and responded with a pre-emptive strike. | Talking about the incident, Mr Travis said: "He felt he and his colleagues were unsafe and responded with a pre-emptive strike. |
| "Officers believed that this was an acceptable way to deal with the situation but they have not been backed by the governor." | "Officers believed that this was an acceptable way to deal with the situation but they have not been backed by the governor." |
| Union members would not return to work until they had assurances they could use a pre-emptive strike "when necessary", he added. | Union members would not return to work until they had assurances they could use a pre-emptive strike "when necessary", he added. |
| Mick Pimblett, the POA's assistant general secretary, said: "We have to take it into context HMP is a violent prison these staff are facing assaults every single day." | Mick Pimblett, the POA's assistant general secretary, said: "We have to take it into context HMP is a violent prison these staff are facing assaults every single day." |
| Conditions at HMP Liverpool, which was built in 1855, were described as "squalid" in a 2017 inspection which found rats and cockroaches were rife in parts of the prison and revealed half of inmates felt "victimised" by staff. | Conditions at HMP Liverpool, which was built in 1855, were described as "squalid" in a 2017 inspection which found rats and cockroaches were rife in parts of the prison and revealed half of inmates felt "victimised" by staff. |
| A Prison Service spokesman said: "Prison officers have the right to use proportionate pre-emptive force, and related disciplinary investigations only take place where there are concerns that force could have been excessive and potentially unlawful." |