HUNDREDS of prison officers in Kent have taken strike action in a national protest over pay.

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said its members at the 12 prisons in Kent and Sussex had joined the action.

Members of the Prison Officers' Association voted for strike action earlier in the week. They say an independent pay review recommended their pay rise should be 2.5 per cent.

But union officials say the Prison Service is only prepared to offer a staged increase, amounting to 1.9 per cent.

The strike started around 7am on Wednesday. Outside Maidstone Prison, a category C prison, around 80 prison officers who are POA members, were stood and sat outside the gates.

Inmates were being looked after by a small senior management team and administrative and ancilliary staff were in work.

John Grindle, chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association at Maidstone Prison, said: "The main thing to re-iterate is that none of us want to be out here striking, but for all of us it is the first time we have done so.

"We are a public service and we are dealing with more prisoners and assaults than ever before. This latest attempt to stage our pay makes us feel like the poor relation of other public services."

At lunchtime today the Ministry of Justice announced it had been granted an injunction against the national strike.

But some strikers said they would only be taking orders from the executive committees of their unions.

In a statement, Jack Straw, Lord Chancellor and minister for justice, said: "The strike is deeply regrettable, unannounced and unlawful.

"We have been actively trying to engage with the POA through talks and regular meetings, yet this action came without warning.

"Our first concern in this situation is to protect the public and we have tried and tested contingency measures in place to ensure the security of all prisons across England and Wales is maintained.

"We will also ensure that prisoners receive meals and emergency medical attention."