November 15, 2016 3.51 pm This story is over 88 months old

High Court orders Lincoln Prison officers to halt ‘unlawful’ protests

Lincoln Prison officers have been ordered to end a 24-hour protest after government lawyers were granted a High Court injunction. As reported previously, around 40 members of staff from Lincoln Prison walked out alongside colleagues across the country over growing fears for their safety and chronic staffing shortages. The Prison Officers Association (POA) had instructed…
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincoln Prison officers have been ordered to end a 24-hour protest after government lawyers were granted a High Court injunction.

As reported previously, around 40 members of staff from Lincoln Prison walked out alongside colleagues across the country over growing fears for their safety and chronic staffing shortages.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) had instructed members to stage a 24 hour protest until midnight on Tuesday, November 15 after failing to agree solutions to concerns with government officials.

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Prison officer Paul Wray described severe understaffing in Lincoln when speaking to a reporter for The Lincolnite, stating: “Enough is enough. It’s just not safe.

“Assaults are happening on a daily basis and we haven’t got the staff to look after everyone in our care properly.”

Frontline prison officer and regional POA spokesperson Paul Wray. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Frontline prison officer and regional POA spokesperson Paul Wray. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

In total, up to 10,000 prison officers across England and Wales have joined in protest, despite it being illegal to take part in industrial action.

The legislation that effectively bans prison officers from striking is Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

It states ministers are able to bring legal proceedings against anyone who ‘induces’ a prison officers to ‘withhold’ their services.

An MOJ spokesman, said: “There is no justification for this action.

“We have been engaged in constructive talks with the POA over the last two weeks and have provided a comprehensive response to a range of health and safety concerns.

“The government has announced an additional 2,500 frontline officers to help reduce violence in prisons.

“We have well established contingencies in place to manage prisons and keep the public safe but we are clear that this constitutes unlawful industrial action, and we will seek remedy in the courts.”

Earlier this month Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a White Paper including investment of £1.3 billion investment in new prisons and an extra 2,100 prison officers over the next five years.

The POA says staffing shortages and violence have made prisons unsafe for staff and inmates, with chairman Mike Rolfe stating conditions are ‘so extreme and so dangerous it cannot carry on:

“The continued surge in violence and unprecedented levels of suicide and acts of self harm, coupled with the recent murder and escapes demonstrate that the service is in meltdown”.