UNIONS representing probation officers have withdrawn planned strikes after forcing the prison service to reopen a three-year pay award amid the jail overcrowding crisis.

The unions submitted a claim for more back pay in 2023, which HM Prison and Probation Service rejected in April this year.

But after consultative ballots in June showed strong support for industrial action and following the change of government, the prison service reopened talks and made an offer to the unions last week.

Both unions have now agreed to accept the proposal of a pay rise for all staff to be brought forward by six months to April and improved terms for overtime pay and pay bands.

Unison said it would withdraw its trade dispute with the prison service, subject to it confirming further details on timings and specific figures on back pay and overtime.

Napo general secretary Ian Lawrence has called on the Labour government to commit to an independent review of the probation service after Tory austerity caused a workload crisis.