Prison officers in England and Wales have voted for industrial action in a pay dispute with the British government.
The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said it had held a workplace ballot on the staging of the 2007 pay award, and that the vote called for industrial action, up to and including strike action.
Colin Moses, national chairman of the POA said: "The morale of staff throughout England and Wales is at rock bottom.
"Prisons are bursting at the seams, the level of assaults against staff has risen to more than eight a day, and in turn the prisoner to staff ratio has also risen. Prisons have become significantly more dangerous places to work, and the Government must take action to restore the members' confidence in their employer."
The POA said it will seek urgent meetings with the Prison Service, Minister for Prisons and Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw "to try to remove the need for any action".
