Government 'should not threaten prison privatisation'

THE Government should stop threatening prison officers with privatisation, if they fail to accept an offer on overtime, a top criminal expert said yesterday.

The call came as the Prison Officers' Association (POA) yesterday announced they intended to begin balloting their members on Saturday, October 4, on the offer.

The POA deferred the start of the ballot following indications from the Prison Service that they would receive a slightly revised offer tomorrow.