Bullying claim in prison walkout.

UP to 200 staff at a city prison have staged an unofficial walk-out claiming they are bullied and harassed by management.

The prison guards walked out of HMP Liverpool at around 2pm yesterday and held a mass meeting on the street outside to discuss grievances with prison management and the Government.

The action was condemned by the Prison Service as unlawful.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "The actions taken by staff in walking out at HMP Liverpool are wrong and unsafe.

"This action relates to an ongoing investigation into an allegation within the prison.

"This is being investigated under the National Offender Management Service's code of conduct and it is our belief that the actions taken so far by the prison management are appropriate within the circumstances.

"The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (as amended) makes it unlawful to induce prison officers to go on strike or to take other industrial action which could put the safety of the public, prisoners or staff at risk.

"The prison is safe and secure."

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said the dispute follows an employment tribunal brought by one of its members against the Prison Service in September.

The POA said both the governor of the category B jail, Alan Brown, and a deputy governor were "heavily criticised" by the tribunal chairman.

A POA statement said: "Unfortunately since that time POA members at HMP Liverpool have been subjected to what they describe as 'continued bullying and harassment' by the senior management at the establishment."