Prison officers are to get an improved pay and pensions deal after the Government reached agreement with the union following weeks of controversy over jail safety.

The proposed package, which includes a reduction in the retirement age of up to three years, has been endorsed by the Prison Officers Association (POA) and will be put to a membership ballot.

The offer had been made before thousands of POA members stopped work last month as prisons reported a surge in violence amid claims the system was at breaking point.

Prison officers will be allowed to retire at 65 - three years ahead of the current state pension age, at no cost to them and with full pension benefits.

Uniformed staff will be given consolidated pay rises of between 0.5% and 1% for each of the next three years, on top of usual performance-related pay increases.


They also stand to receive a "recognition and retention" package totalling £1,000.

Concerns mounted over the state of prisons in England and Wales when up to 10,000 officers held protests outside jails, forcing ministers to go to the High Court to secure an injunction to order them back to work.

The POA directed members to take action after talks with the Government over health and safety concerns broke down.

Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: "This agreement is a good offer which rightly recognises the hard work and dedication of officers across the country doing a tough job."