Defiant Brown not backing down over prison pay deal

It comes after a wildcat strike by prison warders that led to farcical scenes in jails around the country.

The Prime Minister said staggering of public sector rises was "essential" to keep inflation under control.

The Government would not do anything which put economic stability "at risk", he insisted.

The 24-hour walkout involving officers at 131 prisons will cause even more serious damage if it is repeated, say police.

They warned that officers will in future have to be pulled off the streets to run jails.

Scroll down for more...

The strike left Gordon Brown facing accusations that neglect of the jails is a prime cause of the industrial relations breakdown.

Yesterday's action continued even after Justice Secretary Jack Straw obtained a High Court injunction ordering the Prison Officer's Association back to work in line with its no-strike deal.

The POA's refusal opens up the prospect of a legal bid by the Government to freeze or seize its assets, a move Margaret Thatcher used to crush unions in the 1980s.

The impact of the unannounced 7am walkout by prison officers was felt instantly. Inmates were locked in their cells and all visits were cancelled as governors struggled to keep order.

At one point, 20 prison managers were said to be supervising 745 high-risk inmates at Wakefield, where Soham murderer Ian Huntley is held.

There was a rooftop protest by three prisoners in Liverpool and minor fires broke out in Birmingham.

In Cardiff, prisoners taunted guards with chants of "you're breaking the law" as prison officers set up a picket line.

Transfer of prisoners to and from the courts ceased, and jails were unable to accept newly-sentenced prisoners or suspects sent in on remand.

At the Old Bailey, Judge Gerald Gordon, QC, apologised to jurors trying the case of Khorram Azim when they were sent home having heard just one hour of evidence.

Martial arts expert Azim, 34, is accused of murdering Kevin Beckingham, 35, with a wrestling move before plunging a blade into the victim to cover his tracks.

Judge Gordon said: "As you know, the prison strike is affecting the courts today. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done."

Chief Constable Ken Jones, the Association of Chief Police Officers' president, said: "If this dispute continues we will be obliged to divert staff away from core police work.

"We would ask that those involved in leading the dispute bear such consequences in mind as they consider their next steps."

But the 28,000-member POA said it is determined to fight the Government's decision to delay some of its 2.5 per cent pay increase.

Only 1.5 per cent was paid in April, and members must wait until October for the rest.

General Secretary Brian Caton said: "This government has failed to deliver promise after promise to our union and today it is reaping all that it has sown.

"It is unforgivable that a Labour government should treat public services and workers with such disdain."

Jack Straw said the strike was "deeply regrettable and wholly unjustifiable".

In the High Court, Mr Justice Ramsey said there was an overwhelming case for granting an injunction after hearing that the POA had breached a Joint Industrial Relations Procedural Agreement, a deal which stops any form of industrial action.

He said the prisons were full and the effect of any strike in the service has "particularly difficult consequences".

Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: "We do not support strike action in this essential service, but Gordon Brown bears a heavy share of the blame for this crisis.

"He refused adequate prison places and ignored warnings as the jails filled up and prison officers became increasingly overstretched."

The POA pulled out of a long-standing "no-strike" deal earlier this year.

But it had to give the Government 12 months notice of that decision - meaning it is in theory still barred from staging walkouts until May.