Prison officers in strike action

Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales are striking in a protest over pay, the association representing them has said.

The Prison Officers' Association says the strike, which started at 0700 BST, will go on for a minimum of 24 hours.

It says it is staging the strike - which follows a ballot of members - after pulling out of a no-strike agreement with the government.

The government said the officers were acting illegally.

The strike is the first national walkout in the association's 68-year history.

The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of its members who had been due on duty had joined the strike.

POA representatives at Wormwood Scrubs prison, in west London, said the 1,300 prisoners were being looked after by eight governors.

Prison Officers' Association strike action - 29 Aug 07
Statement from Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and Minister for Justice.