Recent figures showed Dudley borough was the most successful area in England for cutting reoffending rates with Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Solihull, and Birmingham all in the top 25 best performing local authority areas.

BBC: A prisoner in a cell

Roger Seifert, professor of industrial relations and human resources management at the University of Wolverhampton, estimated that about 90% of all schools and colleges in England would be closed on Wednesday due to industrial action.

BBC: Head teacher praised by David Cameron to strike