Justice secretary Liz Truss slams prison officers for strike action that halted Jo Cox murder trial saying it will only make jails more dangerous
JUSTICE Secretary Liz Truss has slammed the Prison Officers Association for taking "illegal" strike action today, saying it will only make prisons more dangerous.
Speaking in parliament this afternoon, Mrs Truss said that the government had been in talks with unions, but this morning her calls to resume negotiations were refused.
"The union's position is unnecessary and unlawful, it will make the situation in our prisons more dangerous," she told MPs. "We are taking the necessary steps to end this unlawful action."
She added: "The government is absolutely committed to giving prison officer and governors the support they need to do their jobs and keep them safe from harm."
Up to 10,000 officers have stopped working over safety fears today, and are holding demonstrations outside jails. The High Court ordered them this afternoon to end the 24-hour protest, but the strikers have yet to call it off. Prison officers are banned from striking under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
But Mrs Truss was attacked by the shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, who said that the declining safety in prisons was a "direct result" of government cuts to staff.
"The justice secretary has been told repeatedly that the prison service she presides over is dangerous and volatile," he said.
"The secretary of state has failed to acknowledged that this is a service in crisis. She and her ministerial colleagues have lost control."
Why can't prison officers strike?
THOUSANDS of prison officers have stopped work over safety fears and are protesting outside jails. But why can’t they hold formal strikes and what other professions are banned from walking out?
Prison officers are banned from striking under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Under Section 127 of the act a person will be breaking the law if they induce a prison officer to withhold services or commit a breach of discipline.
The law was temporarily replaced in 2000 by a voluntary agreement between government and the Prison Officers Association (POA), which ruled out strike action as a way of solving disputes.
But, in 2007 20,000 prison staff walked out in a disagreement over pay, with the POA arguing that the government had failed to keep to its side of the agreement.
The government responded by re-enacting the 1994 act and legally banning strikes again.
But, despite the ban today’s “protest meetings” are not unprecedented.
In May 2012 inmates were left locked in cells as hundreds of wardens from across the country held an unannounced half day walkout over pension changes.
The Prison Officers Association has said the today’s action is not a strike.
Instead they are referring to the gatherings of protesting workers as “protest meetings”.
A representative has also said that staff were not “induced” to take part in the action.
Mrs Truss hit back: "It is disgraceful that the Honourable Gentleman refuses to condemn illegal industrial action that is putting front line prison staff at risk."
She added: “The people I am attacking are the Prison Officers Association who have called this action… despite the fact that we were in talks with them… there was an offer on the table.”
The Justice Secretary said that her team had been in talks with the union for the past two weeks over a "range of measures to improve safety" and did not give the government any notice of the action.
RELATED STORIES
The trial of the murdered MP Jo Cox has had to be delayed today as the strikes meant there were no staff to take the defendant to court.
Thomas Mair was due to appear at the Old Bailey this morning for the second day of his trial, which is expected to last two weeks.
As Mr Mair could not be taken to the court, which was due to begin hearing evidence today, the trial could not continue. Six prison governors were due to give evidence to a Commons justice committee today, but did not show up.
Mrs Truss said the Labour Party's response to the action was “completely irresponsible.”
“Safety is my number one priority,” she said.
The Justice Secretary argued that she had increased the prison budget and introduced measures including body cameras and additional dogs and staff to try and tackle some of the problems failing jails today.
“Sanctioning illegal industrial action is… actively putting people at risk,” she added.
But earlier this month prisoners caused over a million pounds worth of damage at Bedford prison, and in October two men were arrested on suspicion of the murder of another inmate at Pentonville jail.