Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales have begun a strike in a protest over pay, the association representing them has said.
Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales are striking in a protest over pay, the association representing them has said.
The Prison Officers' Association says the strike, which started at 0700 BST, will go on for a minimum of 24 hours.
The Prison Officers' Association says the strike, which started at 0700 BST, will go on for a minimum of 24 hours.
It says it is staging the strike - which follows a ballot of members - after pulling out of a no-strike agreement with the government.
It says it is staging the strike - which follows a ballot of members - after pulling out of a no-strike agreement with the government.
The government said the officers were acting illegally.
The government said the officers were acting illegally.
The strike is the first national walkout in the association's 68-year history.
The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of its members who had been due on duty had joined the strike.
POA representatives at Wormwood Scrubs prison, in west London, said the 1,300 prisoners were being looked after by eight governors.
Prison safety
Prison safety
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said the walkout was a breach of the Industrial Relations Act.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said the walkout was a breach of the Industrial Relations Act.
"We will be seeking advice on our next step," the spokeswoman added.
"We will be seeking advice on our next step," the spokeswoman added.
Prisoners are being kept in their cells at the moment.
Prisoners are being kept in their cells at the moment.
It is believed police may have to be drafted in to ensure the safety of inmates.
It is believed police may have to be drafted in to ensure the safety of inmates.
The walkout follows a POA national ballot of members two weeks ago.
The walkout follows a POA national ballot of members two weeks ago.
Surely we should be treated as well, if not better, than the prisoners we look after Colin MosesPOA
Some 87% of the prison officers who voted endorsed industrial action "up to and including strike".
Some 87% of the prison officers who voted endorsed industrial action "up to and including strike".
Turnout for the ballot was about 65%.
An independent pay review body recommended a 2.5% pay rise but the government staged that rise as 1.5% in April and a further 1% in November.
Prison Officers' Association (POA) chairman Colin Moses said the decision to strike had been taken "after two years of frustration and two years of below-inflation pay awards".
The POA says that, due to inflation, this reduces the value of the award, making it a below-inflation pay increase.
"These are professional men and women who every day look after those committed by the courts to our prisons.
Prison Officers' Association (POA) general secretary Brian Caton told BBC News: "We told government and indeed the Prison Service of the result of that ballot and we asked for meetings.
"None of those meetings have happened and that has caused our membership to call for strike action which we have taken today."
Chairman Colin Moses said the decision to strike had been taken "after two years of frustration and two years of below-inflation pay awards".
"Surely we should be treated as well, if not better, than the prisoners we look after."
"Surely we should be treated as well, if not better, than the prisoners we look after."
Injunction 'likely'
The Prison Governors' Association has described the strike action as "widespread but patchy".
At some jails, a large percentage of officers had gone out on strike, chairman Charles Bushell told BBC News.
There would also be strong action at jails in Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester, he added.
He said he was confident the Prison Service would take the POA to court on Tuesday to get an injunction stopping the strike and preventing more.
The governors would try to minimise disruption to prisoners, Mr Bushell added.
"Where they are going to suffer is that there aren't going to be visits today," he told BBC News.
"They're not going to be able to get out of their cells and, furthermore, courts which were expecting prisoners to be produced to them are unlikely to have those prisoners brought to court in many cases."
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