PRISONS are failing to recover from Tory attacks on the service over the last decade, POA national chairman Mark Fairhurst warned today.

Opening the union’s annual conference, which is being held under the slogan “cuts have consequences,” Mr Fairhurst highlighted the closure of more than 20 public-sector prisons, outsourcing of maintenance and the loss of over 25 per cent of the workforce.

Mr Fairhurst raised concerns that union branches had brought to the conference through motions on issues including non-existent training and staff safety.

He warned that the frustration, anger and criticism “needs to be directed at the right people and the people who are doing this to you.”

“I’m sure that it hasn’t escaped your attention conference that this is the 30-year anniversary that we don’t have the right to strike,” he said, referencing section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

“I can’t wait to get our right back, because as soon as [we do,] I will be standing here calling for action.

“It’s time for POA members to take back control no matter what. It’s time for a reset.

“If they don't listen to us, we will force them to. We stay united, we stay strong.”

The conference also heard from Tory Prisons Minister Edward Argar, who, in his first speech to a trade union conference, said that he recognised the importance of prison officers’ work.

Mr Argar, who “confessed” that he had read the Morning Star that morning for the article by POA general secretary Steve Gillan, said that the government had launched initiatives to support prisons and rising demand.

He said these included proposals for career paths to help improve staff retention, but he admitted that there were no current plans on pensions.

Mr Fairhurst responded that Mr Argar had given inaccurate figures, pointing out that while the government claims 5,000 new officers have been recruited, “during the same period, you’ve had 4,400 leaves.

“You need to pay people for the risks they face,” he said, before presenting Mr Argar with a chocolate fudge rock cake and adding that the “people you work with have make a right fudge of things.”