Public safety will be put at risk by Government plans to withdraw £1m of funding from High Down Prison, according to an annual watchdog report.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) is concerned that rehabilitation programmes would be hit by budget cuts at the category B jail.

The problem is particularly acute because High Down has expanded recently to join 20 superprisons around Britain holding more than 1,000 inmates.

Violence has already increased over the past year as a result of overcrowding, recruitment failures and a shortage of permanent staff, the ICB found.

Its report stated: “Last year the board expressed the hope that the issues faced by High Down were properly appreciated centrally and that it received adequate resources and support to enable it to meet the many demands placed on it.

“In the circumstances, the board considers the Government’s planned cutback in funding of the prison system to be short-sighted.

“In particular, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that the proposed £1m cut at High Down could possibly have adverse consequences in relation to morale, the quality of care of prisoners and their rehabilitation, and the provision of adequate support services.”

The Prison Service faced further criticism for “inappropriately” sending up to 298 young offenders to the adult jail, many from rival gangs around London.

Other concerns centred on the excessive placement of inmates with mental health problems, limited translations of information for foreign nationals and delays between deaths in custody and inquests.

However, staff were praised for coping despite the various constraints. An IMB spokesman said: “The board considered that the prison is well-managed, and intent on providing a fair and humane regime in a secure setting.”

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