Prison officers to mount one-hour stoppage next week

Prison officers are planning to stage a one-hour work stoppage next week as part of a dispute about working hours.

The Prison Officers Association wants its members to be allowed to clock in for work before they pass through a new security system, which it says takes longer than the current one.

The association says officers should be paid from when they arrive for duty.

However, the Prison Service says staff are not ready for duty until they have completed the new security measures.

The one-hour stoppage is due to take place next Friday.