"Savage" staffing cuts imposed by the Government have made it difficult for High Down prison to deliver "a regime which is genuinely fair and decent for prisoners", according to a new independent report.

A report published by the Banstead prison’s independent monitoring board (IMB) this week, concludes, for the second year in a row, by "asking the Prisons Minister if he is fully aware of the wide-ranging impact of cuts in staffing levels and the consequent difficulty in delivering a regime that is genuinely fair and decent for the prisoners".

The period covered by the report started just months after 11 of the prison's inmates barricaded themselves into a cell because they felt "banged up like kippers", saying they would come out if they were given "mackerel and dumplings".  All 11 were found not guilty of prison mutiny last November. 

FROM NOVEMBER 11, 2014: Government "got it wrong" over cuts which led to "mackerel and dumplings" prison rebellion

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling’s prison reforms have included a reduction in staff and the introduction of a much tougher prison regime.

Inmates’ free association time was axed and an Incentive and Earned Privileges Scheme was introduced to make prisoners work towards their own rehabilitation.

The 14-strong IMB team, which carried out more than 600 visits to the prison last year, said the prison’s officers have "responded well" to the challenges caused by the Government’s reforms, but have much less time to interact with prisoners.

"There are not opportunities for officers to interact with prisoners and get to know them," the report states.

"The IMB concurs with the emphasis on the importance of good officer-prisoner relations as essential management of a decent prison."

It found that a more "predictable regime" addressed some of the IMB's concerns with regards to fairness and decency as the year went on, but staff reductions have made a "qualitative difference in the life of a prisoner".

Sue Bird, IMB chairman for High Down, said: "The savage cuts in staffing imposed as Government policy have had a wide-ranging impact on the work the prison is able to do for the rehabilitation of its prisoners.

"Staffing levels are so tight that any contingencies, such as sickness or a prisoner needing to be escorted to hospital, means that officers are taken from their normal duties.

"This can mean that prisoners miss out on activities, such as going to the gym and making phone calls home, to which they have any established right."

FROM MARCH 27, 2014: Damning report says 2013 has been a "dreadful year" for High Down prison

Ms Bird said that while the IMB "sees much good work done" at High Down with regards to the classes on offer for prisoners, there are not sufficient resources for "purposeful activity" for all inmates - only 70 per cent of the population.

This leaves inmates "banged-up" in their cells for many hours and the prison's rehabilitative potential "hampered".

The report did praise a new call centre and barbershop which were set up in the prison, as well as a business hub.

But it found the lack of time outside of cells was the "single greatest cause for discontent" among prisoners.

The IMB said there was an increase in violent incidents, from 174 in 2013 to 190 in 2014, which many officers attributed to prisoners’ frustration at being locked in their cells for long periods.

Use of force by officers increased nearly 20 per cent, from 238 occasions in 2013 to 283 in 2014.

There were 10 serious incidents, including five "at height" when inmates climbed onto netting, and three when prisoners barricaded themselves in cells.

The library remained closed for three months while it was moved to a new location on-site.

There were also complaints about cross-deployment of staff resulting in the gym being shut. The IMB said that although there was an improvement in this area by the end of the year, there are still issues.

The IMB found that the Government’s Incentive and Earned Privileges Scheme scheme is not working because there are not enough opportunities for work or education for the prisoners to achieve an ‘enhanced’ status - which would see them rewarded for engaging with the system.

It said: "This aim is intrinsically linked to opportunities for work or education.

"There are not, however, enough suitable jobs or courses for each prisoner.

"The stated aim was that ‘good behaviour is incentivised’ but the IMB has seen no evidence that this has been achieved."

In an exclusive interview with the Epsom Guardian in February, Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, questioned how spending cuts, diminishing resources, a rising prison population and an increased focus on rehabilitation can all be achieved.

He said society needs to have a frank debate as to whether it wants to continue putting more people in prison and the impact of doing this without providing extra money, staff and facilities, on rehabilitation.

Commenting on the IMB report, a Prison Service spokesman said: "As the IMB points out, there have been a number of improvements made at HMP High Down during a period of significant change.

"There is good use of education facilities and the report recognises that prisoners engage in purposeful activity designed to reduce their risk of reoffending.

"All of this is down to the hard work of a team of dedicated staff.

"Violence in our prisons will not be tolerated and we refer the most serious incidents to the police for prosecution.

"Staffing levels at High Down remain appropriate to run a safe and efficient prison and are in line with national guidelines."

He said that High Down - which opened in 1992 and is a Category B local prison for men - currently has a prisoner-to-prison officer ratio of 1:30.

The prison mainly houses prisoners awaiting trial or directly after conviction, who do not require maximum security but are still deemed to be a danger to the public.

Today, the House of Commons' Justice Select Committee published its first major report on prisons - which focuses on examining planning and policies.  

It concludes: "Given the size of the prison population, and the likely need to continue to make financial savings in the medium-term, there is a real danger that savings and rehabilitation could become two contradictory policy agendas.

"The question of the sustainability of the system cannot continue to be ignored."

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Contact Hardeep Matharu by calling 020 8722 6346 or emailing hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk