Thousands of soldiers to be trained to run prisons as the Government prepares for strikes



Soldiers will run prisons if guards go on strike as part of protests against public sector cuts, it was revealed today.

Thousands of troops will receive training in restraint techniques and fire safety as the Government prepares contingencies against a wave of industrial action.

Ministers expect staff to walk out over Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's plans to privatise two prisons and have drawn up plans with the Ministry of Defence, The Times reported.

Training: Troops could take over the running of British jails in the event of industrial action by prison officers

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'Our aim is to avoid any form of industrial action and we will continue to talk to all unions to do everything possible to achieve that.

'However given the risks and complexities involved in running prisons it is sensible and appropriate to review our contingency plans for dealing with widespread industrial action.



Privatisation row: Justice Secretary Ken Clarke's plans for two prisons are expected to spark the walk-out

'There was a previous trilateral agreement with the police and the military for the provision of support to prisons and we are currently reviewing those arrangements and working with the MoD and police to ensure that our contingency arrangements are as strong as possible.'

A source told The Times that as many as 3,000 soldiers will receive initial training beginning in April.

It is thought that using soldiers to staff jails during industrial action would be much less provocative than employing police, whose relationship with inmates would be strained.



The plans co-incide with the setting-up of a special unit within the Cabinet Office to counter expected mass industrial action.

Officials have conducted ‘war games’ to ensure that strike breakers are available to run vital facilities such as the Tube and energy hotspots such as power stations.

Transport managers and prison bosses have been ordered to organise agency workers and teams of managers to cross picket lines amid fears of a nationwide summer of industrial action.

Ministers believe militant union bosses are planning to bring Britain to a halt with coordinated strikes on roads, railways, and throughout the public services.



The unit, run by Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has analysed the workforce at thousands of prisons, schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus depots and energy facilities to work out where the most militant union staff are based.

Managers at HM Revenue & Customs and the benefits system have been told to prepare contingency plans to keep tax and benefits money flowing.

The plans, drawn up in utmost secrecy, are the coalition’s attempt to emulate Margaret Thatcher’s preparations ahead of the miners’ strike in 1984.

Prison officers are banned from going on strike, but in 2007 they staged wildcat action and the jail population was left mostly locked in cells.

