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Ten days of of strikes by security guards at Heathrow Airport start today after last-minute talks failed to resolve a pay dispute.

Around 1,400 members of the Unite union who are employed by Heathrow Airports Ltd (HAL) are expected to take part in the 10-day walkout which ends at 23.59pm on Easter Sunday.

The strikes involve security officers at Terminal Five, which is used exclusively by British Airways, and campus security guards who are responsible for checking all cargo that enters the airport.

As a result, British Airways said it has cancelled around 5% of its flights during the industrial action and stopped selling tickets for strike days.

Unite said the strikes will cause disruption to flights, however Heathrow said it has contingency plans to help passengers during the Easter getaway.

The union said talks broke down because HAL failed to substantially improve its pay offer.

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: “Heathrow Airport has thrown away the opportunity to avoid strikes.

More on British Airways

Union warns of ‘severe delays and disruption’

“Unite went into today’s (Friday’s) meeting looking for an offer our members could accept. Unfortunately it seems HAL went in with no intention of avoiding industrial action.

“The strike action will undoubtedly result in severe delays and disruption to passengers across the airport but this dispute is a direct result of Heathrow Airport’s stubborn refusal to pay its workers fairly.”

Read more:
Heathrow strike forces BA to cancel flights from Terminal 5 over Easter period
Strike to hit Heathrow Airport over Easter

Who is striking and when?

Heathrow said it was putting “contingency plans” in place and drafting 1,000 extra staff into terminals to assist passengers.

An airport spokesperson said: “We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers.

“Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout.”

Passengers should check their flight status

They added: “Following further talks, Unite has again refused to take an improved offer to members, despite the PCS union wanting to do so.

“Colleagues could have an above-inflation 10% pay increase back-dated to January 1 and a lump sum payment of £1,150, but instead they’re left empty-handed by Unite’s actions.”

Heathrow said that at any busy time it may take a little longer than usual to get through security during the strikes.

“Passengers can help us ensure they get the best start to their journeys by checking their flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport, arriving at I no earlier than two hours before short haul flights and three hours before long-haul flights and by being ready for security with their compliant liquids and electronics out of their hand luggage,” it said in a statement.

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‘No other drug does this amount of damage so quickly to your kidneys and bladder’: How party drug is destroying lives

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Tasers to be used in prisons to tackle ‘unacceptably high’ levels of violence

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Tasers to be used in prisons to tackle 'unacceptably high' levels of violence

Tasers can be used in prisons for the first time to tackle “unacceptably high” levels of violence, as part of a new trial.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she is “determined to keep prison staff safe”.

Specialist officers from two bases in Oxfordshire and Doncaster can now be deployed to incidents in adult male prisons in England and Wales, equipped with Tasers.

In a demonstration hostage situation, officers used pyrotechnics to distract an aggressive inmate
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In a demonstration hostage situation, officers used pyrotechnics to distract an aggressive inmate

Officers tackled an aggressive 'inmate' after he was distracted by pyrotechnics
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Officers tackled an aggressive ‘inmate’ after he was distracted by pyrotechnics in the demonstration

Reporters attending a demonstration were shown how they could be used in certain scenarios, where there is a threat to safety, including hostage situations or riots, and where multiple people are involved in “mass disorder”.

One demonstration involved four prisoners who had become disruptive in the exercise yard.

After staff were forced to withdraw, three inmates turned on one and it was deemed there was an “immediate threat to life.”

Officers gave verbal warnings before deploying the Tasers at a distance.

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This trial will use the Taser 7 model, which is what police officers currently use.

It can generate 50,000 volts when triggered, but drops to about 1,500 volts when hitting the target.

In a separate hostage situation, officers used pyrotechnics which produced loud bangs and smoke to distract an aggressive “inmate” before putting them in handcuffs.

An 'inmate' is tackled by a security officer during a role-play demostration
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An ‘inmate’ is tackled by a security officer during a simulation

At first, specialist national officers from the two bases can be deployed if such incidents occur.

It’s understood at the moment these teams get 800 callouts a year – averaging just over two a day.

The trial will run until enough data is collected to determine whether Tasers should be rolled out more widely.

Ms Mahmood said she intends to have further updates in the autumn and will “consider” whether local staff inside jails can use them.

“From my perspective, this is very much the beginning,” she said.

Violence in prisons has been rising. In the 12 months to December there were 10,605 assaults on staff, a rise of 13% on the year before and a new peak. Serious assaults were also up 10% on the previous 12 months.

An 'inmate' is tackled by a security officer during a role-play demostration
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A security officer demonstrates the Taser in use

Earlier this year, Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi attacked prison staff at the high-security jail HMP Frankland, using hot cooking oil and homemade, or improvised, weapons.

The justice secretary said the incident at Frankland “forced the pace” of further measures to tackle violence.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana also allegedly attacked a member of staff at HMP Belmarsh by pouring hot water over them from inside his cell.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) union urged ministers to consider protective equipment and stab vests for staff.

Read more:
Tories call for Tasers to be used in prisons
‘Bleak’ prison in special measures

Last month, the government announced the use of body armour at certain units in high-security jails, which house some of the most dangerous inmates.

But while “grateful” for a “step in the right direction”, the POA don’t think the new measure goes far enough – and instead want specialist staff inside jails trained to use Tasers.

“It is pointless a national response being several hours away if, locally, Taser is needed to immediately preserve life and combat threat,” Mark Fairhurst, the POA’s national chairman said.

Whitehall wants to consider the “lessons” from this trial before any potential further rollout.

Ms Mahmood pointed out that while Tasers have been used for many years by the police, “a custodial setting is different to usage in other scenarios”.

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Paul Gallagher, older brother of Oasis stars Noel and Liam, is charged with offences including rape

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Paul Gallagher, older brother of Oasis stars Noel and Liam, is charged with offences including rape

Paul Gallagher, the older brother of Oasis stars Noel and Liam, has been charged with multiple offences including rape.

The Metropolitan Police said Gallagher, 59, of East Finchley, north London, has been charged with rape, coercive and controlling behaviour, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of intentional strangulation, two counts of making a threat to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The offences are reported to have taken place between 2022 and 2024. The charges follow an investigation which began last year, the force added in a statement.

A woman is being supported by specially-trained officers, the statement continued.

Paul Gallagher, who is about one year older than Noel and seven years older than Liam, has never been involved in Oasis.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 27 August.

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