Fears over prison job cuts plan

Prison populations are at record levels

A leaked report recommending slashing the budget at one of the South's main jails by £800,000, has been condemned by the Prison Officers' Association (POA).

The government's Performance Improvement Plan, leaked to BBC South, also suggested the numbers of prison officers should be reduced at Winchester Prison in Hampshire.

Andy Darken, of the POA, says the proposal is a "recipe for disaster".

He said: "It is certainly a recipe for increased indiscipline by the prisoners - maybe riots.

"We saw recent riots at Lewes Prison directly as a result of staff shortages."

Three prisoners have killed themselves at Winchester in the last 12 months, two on Fathers' Day and one on Boxing Day.

In a recent report the standard of supervision there was criticised.

More staff needed

Winchester MP Mark Oaten said: "The idea that we cut back on suicide prevention when there have been increased suicides in the prison is verging on criminal and the Home Office should think again."

Mr Darken added that the proposal "was all about doing more for less".

He said: " If Winchester was fully staffed it would still need more staff and more money.

"I don't except that money needs to be saved. We need to spend more."

Earlier this month, the Prison Service revealed the prison population in England and Wales had reached its highest ever level.

There are 74,023 inmates in total, a spokeswoman for the service said, adding the official capacity is 76,700.

The Home Office has said the Performance Improvement Plan is intended to improve conditions for both staff and prisoners.

It added the suggested reduction in staff numbers "could be achieved without redundancies".