Prison officers walk out on strike at Gartree

Prison officers at Gartree Prison, near Market Harborough, have walked out on strike as part of a national protest over health and safety in prisons.
Gartree Prison in the Harborough district NNL-141027-120200001Gartree Prison in the Harborough district NNL-141027-120200001
Gartree Prison in the Harborough district NNL-141027-120200001

Thousands of prison officers across England have stopped work, their union the Prison Officers Association said.

The Association said as many as 10,000 members were taking part, with a skeleton staff remaining to provide emergency cover to protect prisoners’ well-being.

The Government’s Ministry of Justice described the action as unjustified and “unlawful”. A spokesman for the Ministry said it would take court action over the protest.

The protest began at midnight and comes after multiple high-profile incidents at prisons across England, including an alleged murder at Pentonville Prison in London and a riot at Bedford Prison.

A union spokesman said the union had consistently raised the volatile and dangerous state of prisons.

“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 spokesman claimed.