Prison officers

Industrial action by prison officers is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. This makes it unlawful for anyone to induce a prison officer to participate in industrial action or to commit any breach of discipline.

While there was nothing in the bill as originally drafted to change this, an amendment made at committee stage (see page 7) would result in the removal of this restriction and restore the right of prison officers to take industrial action.