HMP High Down staff were encouraged to join unofficial walkouts this morning and gather for hour-long branch meetings amidst claims of a “perpetual crisis” of violence, budget cuts and staff reduction.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) encouraged staff to hold meetings outside prison gates between 8am and 9am today (Friday, July 8).
The union says new powers to be granted to prison governors by the government could lead to diminished workers’ rights.
HMP High Down’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) found that drug-fuelled violence and a lack of staffing for rehabilitation schemes have fostered an increasingly “volatile” atmosphere at the prison, following an investigation published in April.
The report also vindicated the father of a former inmate who, speaking to the Epsom Guardian earlier this year, said he was concerned prisoners spent too long locked in their cells.
The Ministry of Justice advises that the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act makes it illegal to induce a prison officer to strike or take industrial action that could put the safety of the public, prisoners or staff at risk. The MoJ also advised that normal staffing at its prisons nationwide had returned to normal.
HMP Wandsworth
Mike Rolfe, National Chair, and Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the POA co-authored a letter to members encouraging them to strike.
It read: “The Prison Service has been in perpetual crisis for a long period of time.
“Many good, committed and hardworking colleagues, our members, have long been struggling to deal with increasing violence, challenging working environments and destructive budget cuts that have seen a drastic reduction in staffing and have made our Establishments dangerous and unsafe places to work.
“The pain and suffering of our members and the Prisoners in our charge will continue until the Union and its members are properly listened to.
“We will make no apology for asking members to call these meetings and the impact on regimes that this may bring.”
HMP High Down
An MoJ spokesperson said: "This morning's unlawful industrial action lasted an hour or less at most prisons. All staff have now resumed normal working. An appropriate level of security was in place across the prison estate at all times.
"Strike action is unlawful for prison officers. We are in regular contact with unions and are continuing discussions to address any concerns they have.
"The safety and security of our prisons is a top priority and well established plans are in place to respond to action and maintain stable regimes."
From February: Four prisoners died inside High Down prison in 2015, Ministry of Justice figures show
Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said he was not surprised prison staff were striking.
He said: “We cannot comment on the rights and wrongs of this action, as we were not party to the discussions that have taken place between the POA and NOMS.
“But it can hardly be surprising that staff are taking action at a time when prison overcrowding is rife and when levels of violence are so high."
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk
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