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Court order against prison strike Court order against prison strike
(20 minutes later)
The Ministry of Justice has been granted a High Court injunction against a national strike by thousands of prison officers protesting over pay.The Ministry of Justice has been granted a High Court injunction against a national strike by thousands of prison officers protesting over pay.
The surprise walkout, intended to be for at least 24 hours, by members of the Prison Officers' Association in England and Wales began at 0700 BST.The surprise walkout, intended to be for at least 24 hours, by members of the Prison Officers' Association in England and Wales began at 0700 BST.
The action came after it pulled out of a no-strike agreement with government.The action came after it pulled out of a no-strike agreement with government.
Officers in Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, East Anglia and London are among those to have stopped working.Officers in Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, East Anglia and London are among those to have stopped working.
Earlier this year the independent pay review body for prisons recommended to ministers salaries ranging from £12,000 for auxillary staff to almost £32,000 for principal officers. Most prison officers start on around £17,700.Earlier this year the independent pay review body for prisons recommended to ministers salaries ranging from £12,000 for auxillary staff to almost £32,000 for principal officers. Most prison officers start on around £17,700.
The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of those who had been due on duty had joined the strike.The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of those who had been due on duty had joined the strike.
It was not immediately clear what the reaction of the POA would be to Mr Justice Ramsey's order.It was not immediately clear what the reaction of the POA would be to Mr Justice Ramsey's order.
Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the POA, said he would be relaying the judge's comments to his national executive council.
'Widespread' action
Union officials had warned the strike could continue indefinitely until the dispute was resolved.Union officials had warned the strike could continue indefinitely until the dispute was resolved.
The judge said there was an "overwhelming case" that a legally binding agreement had been broken.The judge said there was an "overwhelming case" that a legally binding agreement had been broken.
The administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction Mr Justice Ramsey Q&A: Prison officer strike
Lawyers for the government told the High Court the strike had meant there was a backlog of 900 people waiting to be transferred to prisons.Lawyers for the government told the High Court the strike had meant there was a backlog of 900 people waiting to be transferred to prisons.
The hearing was also told a prisoner had been found dead in a cell.The hearing was also told a prisoner had been found dead in a cell.
But the judge said it was too early to assess whether this was a consequence of the action. But lawyers for the government said it was too early to assess whether this was a consequence of the action.
Staff at the category-C Acklington prison in Northumberland later said they did not believe the death of the male inmate was linked to the strike.
Mr Justice Ramsey said the effect of any strike would have "particularly difficult consequences" to prisons already filled to capacity.
"Given the current position in the prisons, it is clear in my view that this is an appropriate case where the administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction," he said.
The POA said the walkout had been "widespread and unprecedented" and there was "lockdown" - where prisoners are confined to their cells - at most prisons.
Affected prisons include:
  • Birmingham prison where a mass outdoor meeting has taken place; all 1,450 prisoners are locked down, and fire engines are attending to deal with an incident
  • Bristol prison where more than 120 officers joined a picket line after serving breakfast to inmates
  • Wormwood Scrubs prison, west London, where the 1,300 prisoners are being looked after by eight governors
  • Manchester Prison - formerly known as Strangeways - where plans are in place to serve packed lunches and dinners to inmates in their cells
  • Cardiff prison where inmates locked in their cells have taunted a picket line in the car park with shouts of "You're breaking the law"
  • Dartmoor, Exeter and Channings Wood prisons in south-west England
  • Wakefield prison, where prisoners include Soham murderer Ian Huntley
  • Frankland high-security prison, County Durham, where a handful of striking officers volunteered to go back to work because of the danger posed by inmates