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| Prison officers reject jail plans | Prison officers reject jail plans |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prison officers have voted to reject the government's controversial workforce modernisation plans by five to one, the BBC has learned. | Prison officers have voted to reject the government's controversial workforce modernisation plans by five to one, the BBC has learned. |
| The plans, which affect England and Wales, involve compulsory fitness tests and a new pay and grading structure. | The plans, which affect England and Wales, involve compulsory fitness tests and a new pay and grading structure. |
| Out of 25,000 ballot papers, over 20,000 Prison Officers Association members voted against, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. | Out of 25,000 ballot papers, over 20,000 Prison Officers Association members voted against, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. |
| The voting figures will be independently verified on 20 February. | The voting figures will be independently verified on 20 February. |
| The POA will now request a meeting with Justice Secretary Jack Straw to discuss the proposals. | |
| 'Economic uncertainty' | |
| The Ministry of Justice wants to give low-ranking staff, to be known as "operations officers", more responsibility as part of a £1bn efficiency drive. | |
| But the union says it is concerned that safety would be put at risk. | |
| Ministers have described the pay deal - which amounts to a 4.75% increase over three years - as "attractive... at a time of economic uncertainty". | |
| The Prison Governors' Association is due to recommend whether or not its members should accept the deal and leaders have expressed reservations. |