Responding to protests over health and safety concerns by prison officers across the country, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Richard Burgon MP said:

“This Tory Government is failing to address a prisons violence crisis which is leaving staff and prisoners in a dangerous situation.

“It is clear that ministers have lost the confidence of prison officers as a result of workforce reductions and the daily experience of assaults on staff.

“The Justice Secretary needs to reassure the public and staff immediately that prisons are safe places to work.”