SAFETY and security at HMP Erlestoke could be at risk if persistent cuts to funding continue, according to the board of Wiltshire’s only prison.

After being recognised as the best performing prison of its type in the South West, serious concerns have been raised about the future integrity of the facility, as staff shortages and costs both continue to rise.

One of the most pressing issues is the cost of keeping inmates locked away on indeterminate terms, amounting to millions of pounds after tariffs expire.

The increasing use of legal highs is also a concern as substances such as spice, a synthetic cannabis, is not recognised in drug testing.

Safety is still good in the Category C prison, with just 20 violent incidents over the last year, and the ‘Special Cell’ for use in the most extremely difficult situations has only been used once.

An inquiry was launched last May after one of the inmates died in custody in a suspected suicide.

The annual report of the Independent Monitoring Board said: “The mandatory drugs testing rate is 6.9 per cent against a target of 12 per cent. This reflects the growing use of legal highs including spice, for which there is currently no test.

“The Board is also very concerned about staff shortages. This has a negative impact on staff morale and also that of prisoners. The Board remains extremely dissatisfied with the Government’s plans, if indeed there are any, to deal with prisoners sentenced to an indeterminate term.

“The population of Erlestoke is in excess of 500 prisoners, about one third are within this group and are over tariff, often by many years. The cost of keeping this large group of prisoners who are over tariff is £20,600 per annum per prisoner, giving an overall cost of £16,799,300, assuming an average of three years over tariff.

“There is no system in place to deal with the unacceptable cost in terms of funding and the lack of duty of care to these prisoners and their families. It has been an extremely difficult year for health care staff with staff shortages and some long term sickness.

“Despite these difficulties, staff have achieved the green light status in all categories for the fourth year running – the only prison in the south-west to achieve this.

“Too many prisoners miss external hospital and dental appointments because there are not enough staff available to escort them. The reduction in staff has also resulted in increased lockdowns.”

Following an unannounced inspection last year, Nick Hardwick, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, recognised many of the same themes which need to be tackled.

Steve Hodson, governor of HMP Erlestoke, said: “Staffing is an issue, and we are still recruiting at all grades, so there is work here for those who want it with ongoing recruitment campaigns. Staffing has improved greatly over the last five or six months, which has helped greatly in terms of the regime here.

“There have also been problems here after issues around drug testing, and that is something both locally and nationally the prison service is working really hard on, to combat drugs such as spice, which has caused issues for us this year. We are working hard to overcome those problems.

“The IMB are extremely supportive towards everything we are working to achieve here, and any concerns they raise we will look to rectify. We are very grateful for that support, and it is good of them to recognise despite the difficulties we face this is a very safe prison, and prisoners here are treated with respect so we are able to do the job of reducing the risk of reoffending.”