Suspension after prison porn probe

The man arrested is a senior manager at Cardiff prison

A member of the senior management at Cardiff prison has been arrested by police investigating allegations of misuse of a personal computer.

It is understood the enquiries relate to the alleged downloading of pornography.

A man was arrested at the prison on Friday by detectives from Cardiff.

South Wales police said the 54-year-old man under arrest lives in the Gloucester area.

A member was arrested after some child pornography was allegedly found on a lap top computer

David Rodden, Prison Governors Association

He was questioned at Cardiff Central police station and has been released on bail while enquiries continue.

A spokeswoman for the prison service said the arrested man - a senior member of the management at Cardiff prison - had been suspended from duty.

She stressed that the matter did not involve the treatment of prisoners.

She said it was not appropriate to comment further while the police inquiries were continuing.

"Police were interviewing and investigating. He has not been charged and was bailed while police make further inquiries," she said.

'Treated very seriously'

"The matter does not relate to the member of staff's treatment of prisoners.

"It's inappropriate for us to comment further until police investigations are over."

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: "Police detectives are investigating allegations of misuse of a personal computer at Her Majesty's Prison Cardiff."

The man was due to answer bail in February 2001, she added.

Prison Governors' Association general secretary David Roddan said the body was treating the matter very seriously.

"A member was arrested after some child pornography was allegedly found on a lap top computer," he said.