Goverment wins legal action after south London prison guards walk out over 'dangerous' working conditions

Guards across south London’s prisons were protesting because of claims jails are "in meltdown".

According to the Prison Officers Association (POA) the volatile and dangerous state of prisons,chronic staff shortages and impoverished regimes has led to staff feeling unsafe in an atmosphere of disorder where prisoners have even taken control of some areas.

Staff at Belmarsh, Wandsworth, High Down and Isis prison took part in the mass demonstrations where as many as 10,000 prison officers around the country protested.

Mr Justice Kerr heard an urgent application for the injunction to "restrain" the Prison Officers Association from "inducing any form of industrial action".

Daniel Stilitz QC, for the Ministry of Justice, told the judge that "injunctive relief" was being sought against the POA, which was "liable as a trade union for its unlawful inducement".

He said what was being sought was "an order until trial or further order".

Stuart Brittenden, counsel for the union, said: "The POA's position is that the Secretary of State is in breach of their contract in failing to provide a safe place and a system of work, and as such, any instruction to them to continue working in those conditions in this environment is an unlawful one."

The judge said that "on the face of it we have a grave situation".

Prison officers outside Liverpool Prison in a protest over health and safety concerns (c.) PA

At Belmarsh in Thamesmead, 110 officers protested outside the gates leaving a skeleton framework in place.

In Isis prison 38 of the 42 staff left their posts to demonstrate.

In Wandsworth Prison about 70 of the 80 guards walked out against what they feel are unbearable conditions being imposed on them.

The mass protest, which began at midnight, comes after a string of high profile incidents at prisons, including an alleged murder, a riot and the escape of two inmates.

It was due to finish at midnight tonight (November 15). 

The action was branded "unlawful" by the Ministry of Justice, and interpreted the move as strike - the union maintains health and safety issues are being abused.

Staff at Wandsworth are demonstrating today

Prison officers, police officers and the army cannot strike by law.

Court business has been affected as a result of the action, with defendants like murderer Stefano Brizzi, guilty of Greenhithe’s PC Gordon Semple's death, unable to appear at the Old Bailey today (November 15).

The trial of Thomas Mair, who denies murdering MP Jo Cox, was brought to a halt at the Old Bailey due to the action, with the case adjourned until Wednesday morning.

Steve Gillan, the POA's general secretary, said staff provided emergency cover for fires and medical incidents in order to protect prisoners' well-being.

The union has said the "continued surge in violence and unprecedented levels of suicide and acts of self harm", coupled with the recent alleged murder and escapes "demonstrate that the service is in meltdown."

Two prisoners - including a convicted attempted murderer - managed to escape from Pentonville prison, north London, earlier this month - sparking a manhunt in which they were eventually recaptured.

Stefano Brizzi (left) has been found guilty of the murder of Gordon Semple (right)

Weeks earlier, inmate Jamal Mahmoud, 21, died after being stabbed at the jail on October 18 in an attack which left two others injured.

And on November 6, up to 200 prisoners went on a rampage in HMP Bedford.

The development comes only days after Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled her blueprint for prison reform including a recruitment drive to add 2,500 new officers to the frontline and "no fly zones" to stop drones dropping drugs and contraband into jails.

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.

However Dave Todd, POA representative for London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, said conditions in prisons were "volatile and dangerous".

"We need to act to protect ourselves," he said. "It has not come about quickly - it's a build-up over probably years actually.

"It's just unsafe.

“To me, prison officers taking this type of action speaks volumes for what's happening inside."

Mr Todd, who said he served with the Army in Northern Ireland in the early 90s, said he found prisons "really daunting" when he first started working in them.

"I served in Northern Ireland and I felt more vulnerable walking the landings in prisons than I did on the streets of Northern Ireland," he said.

"There's so many weapons within prisons, there's so many prisoners out at once.

“They can slash, stab and kick, beat, take you hostage if they so wish."

The appearance of a number of prison governors at the Commons justice committee on Tuesday morning was postponed due to the action.