STAFF at the Benefits Agency in London Street, Andover walked out on strike on Wednesday and yesterday over a national dispute about security.

The Government is merging the Benefits Agency and the Employ-ment Service to create Jobcentre Plus offices and as part of that operation it wants to create a friendlier atmosphere for clients.

But the Public and Commercial Services Union is opposed to related plans for removing security glass because they fear frontline staff will be attacked by disgruntled benefit seekers.

Mr Nigel Hill, vice-president of the North Hants branch, said: "The Govern-ment believes that screens are not environmentally friendly for the public and they wish to reduce screens if not do away with them altogether."

The union is not against making offices more environmentally friendly, but they want to have security screens at the first point of contact in reception areas with more open plan offices for follow-up interviews.

"The problem is that the Employment Service deals with people looking for work while the Benefits Agency is the last resort, and when people are being told bad news about benefits then some of them tend to react violently," said Mr Hill.

"I can envisage people being attacked and hurt if these screens are removed."

The union says the reaction could be anything from swearing to threats of violence to actual violence.

And he says union membership has doubled at the Andover Benefits office with members of staff fearful for their safety.

Already strikes have taken place in the Winchester office which has been used as a so-called 'Pathfinder' to introduce and try out the merged Jobcentre Plus scheme.

But from April next year the Government plans to introduce a rolling programme to merge all offices throughout the country under the new Department for Work and Pensions.

More selective strikes are planned in the new year.