Prison guards walk out at HMP Liverpool over health and safety fears

Nov 18 2009 by Gary Stewart, Liverpool Daily Post

Police were called to HMP Liverpool following the en masse walkout of prison officers _300

TWO hundred staff who walked out of HMP Liverpool say they can count on the support of union members from 20 different prisons today.

The staff, who are members of the Prison Officers’ Association, say 98% joined them outside the jail, on Hornby Road, Walton, and accused senior management of “bullying and harassment”.

They left the prison at 7pm last night, but promised to be back this morning and said 20 other prisons, including Kennet in Maghull and Risley, near Warrington, would hold solidarity meetings.

Liverpool Branch chairman Paul Leigh said: “The staff here are in fear for their health and safety because of the unsafe manning levels and they’re also in fear of the management.

“We believe they are bullying harassing, suspending and transferring officers out of vindictiveness.

“In effect, they’re demoralising the staff and the staff have had enough.”

He said guards, who walked out at 1.30pm yesterday, were not on strike.

He said: “This is a spontaneous result of the management’s actions. We want an assurance from a senior management official that the health and safety of staff will not be in jeopardy.”

Prison service representatives said the walk out was dangerous and illegal.