Video: Richard Williams says the prison system is in crisis
Prison officers in Nottingham stopped work and joined colleagues around the country in protesting about safety fears.
In a statement, the Prison Officers Association (POA) directed all members to take protest action after talks between the union and Government broke down.
Staff at Nottingham Prison in Sherwood walked out of work this morning and gathered outside in the car-park, saying increasing levels of violence in the jail were ‘unacceptable’ and calling for more funding.
Richard Williams is the POA local branch chairman for Nottingham and has been an officer at the prison for fourteen years.
He said: “Today is about health and safety that affects my members and the prisoners in our care.
“For a long time now, the POA national executive committee have sought constructive dialogue with the government about the health and safety conditions of prisons in England and Wales.
“At Nottingham we have witnessed unprecedented levels of violence against my members and amongst the prisoners.
“This situation is unacceptable and has been for a long time, presently we are working with local management to address these issues and we have implemented changes but we are facing massive staff shortages.
“Officers have had their annual leave cancelled just to be able to run a basic regime for the prisoners and that is not right.”
Speaking in the Commons today, Justice Secretary Liz Truss, said: “The union’s position is unnecessary and unlawful and it will make the situation in our prisons more dangerous.”
The Government submitted a High Court injunction which has ended the protest and forced prison officers to return to work.
There is no control
Mark Hargreaves, an officer at Notts prison, said: “Staffing levels on the wings has dropped significantly over the years and the wages being offered for starting officers isn’t appropriate for the work they do.
“We are dealing with aggressive prisoners on a day-to-day basis who are not getting what they are entitled to.
“Prisoners take it out on the staff and because there aren’t enough staff we can’t deal appropriately with every situation.
“We’re not here to judge the prisoners, they’ve already been judged.
“We are here to deal with them as the court instructs us to but with the addition of the drugs that are coming over the wall, there is no control.
“We don’t have the security to search and we don’t have the resources.”
