Prison officers at Stoke Heath cut by 41%
The number of prison officers at Shropshire's only prison has been cut by 41 per cent in less than four years, according to new figures released today.
Figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal the number of officers at public-section prisons across the West Midlands regions has been cut by 38 per cent from August 2010 to June 2014.
In the same time period the number of officers at Stoke Heath prison, near Market Drayton, fell by almost 100 from the 237 recorded in 2010.
Currently there are 637 prisoners at Stoke Heath and 140 prison officers.
See also: Local prison hasn't got enough staff and has problems with healthcare systems
Research published by the charity shows that, across England and Wales, there were 14,170 officer grade staff working in prisons run by the state at the end of June 2014. There were more than 24,000 at the end of August 2010.
This includes 1,375 officer posts that were lost when 15 public sector prisons were closed during the period.
According to the figures in the West Midlands region, officer numbers have been cut from 1,917 to 1,180.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "The prison system is in crisis, and these figures reveal why. While the prison population has grown, officer numbers have been cut without any thought for the consequences.
"A shortage of governors makes matters even worse, because officers are being taken off the wings and asked to 'act up' to fill vacancies.
"Having made prison officers redundant, the Ministry of Justice is now apparently struggling to recruit. These are desperate times, and ministers are resorting to desperate measures."
No-one from the Home Office was available for comment.
See also: Improvements for Stoke Heath prison following criticism
In July 2014, the Howard League warned that prisons were at breaking point as it revealed figures showing officer numbers had been cut in all prisons – public and private – by 30 per cent in three years.
The charity's findings were supported by the Prison Governors' Association and the prison officers' union, the POA, who urged the government to act.
Since then, the damaging impact of staff cuts has been highlighted in a series of inspection reports published by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons.
See also: Mother jailed for sending heroin in birthday card to son at Stoke Heath
