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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jail staff on unofficial walkout | Jail staff on unofficial walkout |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Up to 200 staff at Liverpool Prison have staged an unofficial strike. | Up to 200 staff at Liverpool Prison have staged an unofficial strike. |
| The prison guards walked out at about 1400 GMT and held a meeting outside to discuss grievances with prison management and the government. | The prison guards walked out at about 1400 GMT and held a meeting outside to discuss grievances with prison management and the government. |
| The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said the dispute was over "bullying and harassment" of staff after one of its members went to an employment tribunal. | The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said the dispute was over "bullying and harassment" of staff after one of its members went to an employment tribunal. |
| The action has described by the Prison Service as "unlawful", which also said the walkout was "wrong and unsafe". | The action has described by the Prison Service as "unlawful", which also said the walkout was "wrong and unsafe". |
| Prisoners were notified of a "disruption to regime" by notices, signed on behalf of the prison's governor Alan Brown. | |
| It is understood that staff already booked for duty are still working inside the prison. | It is understood that staff already booked for duty are still working inside the prison. |
| The prison is safe and secure Prison Service spokesman | The prison is safe and secure Prison Service spokesman |
| A Prison Service spokesman said the action related to an "ongoing investigation into an allegation within the prison". | A Prison Service spokesman said the action related to an "ongoing investigation into an allegation within the prison". |
| "This is being investigated under the National Offender Management Service's code of conduct and it is our belief that the actions taken so far by the prison management are appropriate within the circumstances. | "This is being investigated under the National Offender Management Service's code of conduct and it is our belief that the actions taken so far by the prison management are appropriate within the circumstances. |
| "The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (as amended) makes it unlawful to induce prison officers to go on strike or to take other industrial action which could put the safety of the public, prisoners or staff at risk. | "The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (as amended) makes it unlawful to induce prison officers to go on strike or to take other industrial action which could put the safety of the public, prisoners or staff at risk. |
| "The prison is safe and secure." | "The prison is safe and secure." |
| The officers held a mass meeting outside the prison | The officers held a mass meeting outside the prison |
| The POA said the dispute follows an employment tribunal brought by one of its members against the Prison Service in September. | The POA said the dispute follows an employment tribunal brought by one of its members against the Prison Service in September. |
| The POA said both the governor of the prison and a deputy governor were "heavily criticised" by the chairman of the tribunal. | The POA said both the governor of the prison and a deputy governor were "heavily criticised" by the chairman of the tribunal. |
| A POA statement said: "Unfortunately since that time POA members at HMP Liverpool have been subjected to what they describe as 'continued bullying and harassment' by the senior management at the establishment." | A POA statement said: "Unfortunately since that time POA members at HMP Liverpool have been subjected to what they describe as 'continued bullying and harassment' by the senior management at the establishment." |
| Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, called on ministers to intervene. | Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA, called on ministers to intervene. |
| He said: "We can only hope that Prison Service management will engage in a positive manner to resolve this dispute, rather than, as we have seen on previous occasions when they have resorted to the courts as a first response." | He said: "We can only hope that Prison Service management will engage in a positive manner to resolve this dispute, rather than, as we have seen on previous occasions when they have resorted to the courts as a first response." |
| 'Peaceful protest' | 'Peaceful protest' |
| POA members at Liverpool want an investigation into the actions of Mr Brown and his deputy and an apology from the Prison Service for the "overly dogmatic and unfair treatment" that they say they have had to endure. | POA members at Liverpool want an investigation into the actions of Mr Brown and his deputy and an apology from the Prison Service for the "overly dogmatic and unfair treatment" that they say they have had to endure. |
| The union said it was in talks with Prison Service chief executive Michael Spurr. | The union said it was in talks with Prison Service chief executive Michael Spurr. |
| Merseyside Police officers said they were working with the Prison Service to "ensure the prison remains secure". | Merseyside Police officers said they were working with the Prison Service to "ensure the prison remains secure". |
| "Police officers are policing the peaceful protest currently being carried out by prison officers outside the prison," a spokesman said. | "Police officers are policing the peaceful protest currently being carried out by prison officers outside the prison," a spokesman said. |
| "Following usual practice, Merseyside Police has implemented contingency plans and will continue to liaise with the Prison Service and representatives of the prison officers throughout the protest." | "Following usual practice, Merseyside Police has implemented contingency plans and will continue to liaise with the Prison Service and representatives of the prison officers throughout the protest." |