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Reuters

Thousands of British prison officers returned to their jobs on Friday after staging a six-hour walkout to protest against rising levels of violence in jails.
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) union wants the government to issue better personal protection equipment to its 28,000 members and reduce levels of violence and overcrowding in jails.

Prison officers demonstrated outside jails across England and Wales early on Friday morning, defying government demands to return to work.
But meetings with Prisons Minister Rory Stewart subsequently led to assurances on the POA’s concerns, a union spokesman said.
The state of prisons in Britain has made headlines in recent months.

Inspectors warned on Thursday that inmates of Bedford jail in central England did not follow rules and were using drugs. Last month, the government took over running another prison for similar reasons.
British private prisons in spotlight after takeover of G4S-run ‘crisis’ jail
Official figures published in July showed that assaults on staff jumped 26 per cent in the year to March 2018 to 9,003 incidents, although a change in how issues were recorded may have contributed to the rise.
“The violence has been brought by a reduction in staffing levels,” said Blessing Uwede, POA representative at Wormwood Scrubs jail in west London, where about 35 staff walked out.

The government said it is working to address POA concerns.
“Yesterday we doubled the prison sentence for anyone who assaults prison officers,” a Ministry of Justice statement said.
Birmingham riot shows Britain’s prison system ‘is in crisis’
“We’ve also increased pay, provided tools such as body-worn cameras to increase security on the landings and are investing £40 million (US$52 million) to improve the estate and tackle the drugs problem which is fuelling much of the violence.”
There were now also 3,500 new prison officers to help ease the burden, it said.


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UK prison officers return to work after protest against jail violence

Prison officers staging a protest walkout outside Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London on September 14, 2018. Photo: Reuters

A prison officer stands outside Wormwood Scrubs Prison during a walk out protest in London, Britain, September 14, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Prison officers stage a protest walkout outside Wormwood Scrubs Prison in London, Britain, September 14, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Prison officers protest over violence and safety concerns outside Nottingham Prison, Britain September 14, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Staples

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Strike came day after inspectors warned that inmates of a jail in central England did not follow rules and were using drugs


Strike came day after inspectors warned that inmates of a jail in central England did not follow rules and were using drugs.


UK prison officers return to work after protest against jail violence

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Strike came day after inspectors warned that inmates of a jail in central England did not follow rules and were using drugs

Strike came day after inspectors warned that inmates of a jail in central England did not follow rules and were using drugs