Warning over prison strike

Locking up at Maghaberry prison

Prison officers in Northern Ireland have been warned by the government not to go ahead with industrial action.

In a letter issued to all officers, Security Minister Jane Kennedy said legal action could be taken in the event of any strike.

Last week, in protest at what they see as a lack of proper security at their homes, officers said they would no longer work any overtime.

There has been almost one attack a week on the homes of prison officers during the past year.

According to the chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, Finlay Spratt, they are about to up their campaign.

"Prison officers have decided that they are going to withdraw their labour," he said.

Finlay Spratt said officers' concerns were not being addressed

"As far as I know they don't intend to turn up to work on Wednesday morning.

"That is all the prisons in Northern Ireland and that is their decision.

"We have been trying to resolve this issue about security matters at their homes but nobody is listening."

Under the criminal justice act, it is against the law for prison officers to take industrial action.

The Northern Ireland Office said it had not received any official notification that industrial action was planned.

However, Mrs Kennedy's letter to officers has warned that legal action would follow any strike.

Meanwhile, prison officers in England, Scotland and Wales, have said they are ready to weigh in behind their colleagues in Northern Ireland if officers who take industrial action are disciplined.

The national chairman of the POA, Colin Moses, said he received a letter from the Prison Service warning him and his members not to get involved.

He added the letter requested confirmation in writing by Tuesday that they would not.

There are 34,000 prison officers working at 174 prisons across the rest of the UK.

In September, a review of safety at Maghaberry Prison recommended separating republican and loyalist prisoners.

The move is being introduced in the wake of violent clashes between rival groups in the jail and in the face of a "dirty protest" by a group of dissident republicans.

Maghaberry Prison houses male and female prisoners, whether they are convicted or on remand.