Prison officers plan further stoppages

PRISON officers are planning further work stoppages at jails across the country in the continuing row over clocking-in arrangements.

Prison warders staged their second one-hour work stoppage in jails yesterday, with two further protests planned for next week. The dispute centres on the introduction of new security measures to crack down on contraband being smuggled to inmates.

The Prison Officers’ Association says it supports increased security but insists a new system of clocking-in after staff are searched will lengthen their working day.