Prison officers' walkout 'unlawful'

The walkout by prison officers in most jails is unlawful and ministers are considering court action to end the dispute, the Government has said.

Ministers could seek an injunction forcing staff at prisons across England, Wales and Scotland to return to work, the Ministry of Justice said.

Prison officers started unannounced protest meetings at 7am on Thursday against Government plans to link their normal pension age to the state pension age.

Union leaders have told Sky News that up to 80% of UK prisons are being hit by an unofficial prison officer protest, as tens of thousands of public sector workers went on strike.

Prison officers across England, Wales and Scotland - who are banned from striking by law - are walking out over a proposed pension age increase.

HM Courts and Tribunal Service say some court cases are being disrupted by the prison officer walkout as inmates are not being taken to court.

At the Old Bailey, a jury has been sent home after the two defendants were not produced in court.

The judge apologised but said he had been asked by counsel not to take any verdicts from the jury in their absence.

The Ministry of Justice is disappointed by what it describes as an "unlawful" walkout.

National Offender Management Service (NOMS) chief executive Michael Spurr said: "I am extremely disappointed that the Prison Officers Association (POA) has taken this unlawful action.

"We have implemented our contingency plans, and our priority is to protect the public and ensure that prisons remain safe and secure."

As prison officers walk off the job, unions estimate 400,000 other public sector workers are expected to take part in a 24-hour strike over pension changes.

The Government has disputed that figure.

A Cabinet Office source has told Sky News that about 100,000 civil servants are on strike.

Airports, jobcentres, tax offices, colleges, driving test centres, museums and military sites are facing disruptions.

Off-duty police officers are prohibited by law from striking, but they are also among the protesters, with an estimated 20,000 marching in Westminster.

:: Read live updates on the disruptions:

"Public sector workers are being asked to work a bit longer and pay a bit more, but they will continue to get a guaranteed pension which is index-linked and inflation-proofed.

"Most staff on low and middle incomes will receive a pension at retirement as good as what they expect today, and for many it will be even better."

Meanwhile, Unite said thousands of London bus workers were to vote on strikes in a row over payments during the Olympic Games.

And recorded messages on HM Revenue and Customs phones were advising people to call back another day, and there were reports of government offices and jobcentres being closed, said the PCS.

The Immigration Services Union , which represents 4,500 Border Agency staff, is expecting walkouts at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and the Eurotunnel.

Passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport were warned they may experience some delays at immigration.

Any delays at Heathrow could exacerbate a row over staffing levels , with passengers already complaing about long queues at passport control.