Strike at Walton prison 300

STAFF at HMP Liverpool have returned to work 24 hours after walking out in a wildcat strike over “health and safety” concerns.

The 200 members of the Prison Officers’ Association, who picketed Walton jail on one of the wettest days of the year yesterday, were joined in their action by 150 guards at HMP Risley, near Warrington.

Union members at Lancaster Castle, Lancaster Farms and Verne prison also walked out in support.

Walton prisoners were left in “lockdown” while 30 managers were brought in to help 20 guards keep the 1,200-capacity prison under control.

The strikers returned to work yesterday at 2pm after being assured their concerns, which centre around a perceived bullying culture among HMP Liverpool’s senior management, would be addressed by the prison service. Mark Freeman, the POA’s deputy general secretary, said: “They had promised us a letter or meeting, but then they bussed in 30 governors [managers]. If they had given us what we asked for 24 hours ago, none of the other prisons would have walked out.”