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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Suicide watch ban by prison staff | Suicide watch ban by prison staff |
| (5 days later) | |
| Around 20 prison officers at Birmingham jail are refusing to carry out suicide watch duties, the BBC has learned. | Around 20 prison officers at Birmingham jail are refusing to carry out suicide watch duties, the BBC has learned. |
| The move, not officially voted on but sanctioned by the Prison Officers Association (POA), is part of a national overtime payments protest. | The move, not officially voted on but sanctioned by the Prison Officers Association (POA), is part of a national overtime payments protest. |
| It is thought the action - started on Saturday - could spread to other jails. | It is thought the action - started on Saturday - could spread to other jails. |
| Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe is due to meet the POA later, although the Home Office said the action was not adversely affecting the prison regime. | Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe is due to meet the POA later, although the Home Office said the action was not adversely affecting the prison regime. |
| In a statement, the POA said officers were not involved in industrial action, but had "chosen to comply with National Union policy". | In a statement, the POA said officers were not involved in industrial action, but had "chosen to comply with National Union policy". |
| Monitoring inmates | Monitoring inmates |
| "Staff are currently being ordered to cover this work which is additional to our current agreed working profile," the POA said. | "Staff are currently being ordered to cover this work which is additional to our current agreed working profile," the POA said. |
| "This is causing staff a great deal of discomfort and disruption." | "This is causing staff a great deal of discomfort and disruption." |
| The POA insists that "suicide watches are still taking place as normal and are and always will be of the highest priority." | |
| The protest at Birmingham began when some officers refused to monitor inmates at the highest risk of suicide. | The protest at Birmingham began when some officers refused to monitor inmates at the highest risk of suicide. |
| The duty, known as "constant watch", involves observing a prisoner in a cell 24 hours a day. | The duty, known as "constant watch", involves observing a prisoner in a cell 24 hours a day. |
| Officers also withdrew from "bedwatch" which involves monitoring inmates in hospital. | Officers also withdrew from "bedwatch" which involves monitoring inmates in hospital. |
| 'Hugely disruptive' | 'Hugely disruptive' |
| Prison governors had to fill in, and one was understood to have worked a 27-hour shift, according to BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw. | Prison governors had to fill in, and one was understood to have worked a 27-hour shift, according to BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw. |
| He said that although other prison staff had now volunteered, there was concern that the jail would be able to cope for only a few more days. | He said that although other prison staff had now volunteered, there was concern that the jail would be able to cope for only a few more days. |
| One prison official said the action was "hugely disruptive" and could be unlawful. | One prison official said the action was "hugely disruptive" and could be unlawful. |
| Officers at two other prisons - Liverpool and Blakenhurst, in Worcestershire - are expected to decide later whether to take part in the protest. | Officers at two other prisons - Liverpool and Blakenhurst, in Worcestershire - are expected to decide later whether to take part in the protest. |