VIOLENCE at Winchester Prison has rocketed in the last two years, according to official figures.

Assaults on staff by inmates have soared from seven in 2000 to 81, an increase of more than 1,000 per cent compared to a national increase of about 100 per cent.

Attacks between inmates have risen 300 per cent in the last three years and by 1,000 per cent in the last 15 years – double the national average.

However, Winchester city councillor James Byrnes, who left his job at Winchester Prison last October, said this was not an isolated problem.

“The reduction in funding from the Ministry of Justice has affected all prisons,” he added.

“Because of the cutbacks, staffing levels have been reduced, which makes it harder. It is not just a problem particular to Winchester but every prison [in the country].”

The Prison Officers Association are growing alarmed by the rising level of violence against staff in jail.

The POA says the latest Government Safety in Custody statistics outline the failures of National Offender Management Services (NOMS) to protect prisoners and staff.

The level of violence, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths, alongside the continued use of drugs within jails is unacceptable, say the POA.

Its national executive committee on Friday July 29 met last Friday with the chief executive of NOMS and other senior officials to discuss the statistics.

The POA informed NOMS that if they will not protect the health and safety of staff and prisoners alike, they will.

Mike Rolfe, national chairman of the POA, said: “My members have lost patience with the employer (NOMS). They are fed up of being used as a punch bag due to chronic staffing levels, staff shortfalls, overcrowded prisons and impoverished regimes”.

Steve Gillan, general secretary of the POA, said: “We cannot continue to allow the Government and NOMS to allow these unprecedented increases of violence to continue. The abject failure of NOMS to address these issues and challenge the Governments cuts year on year has now resulted to bring about a service in crisis. If the employer fails to protect their workers, then the union must step in to ensure the workplace is safe and secure.”

In response, justice secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “The level of violence in our prisons is unacceptable. I am clear that safety in prisons is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans.

“There are a number of factors including the availability of psychoactive substances in prisons which must be tackled. It will take time to address these long-standing problems. I am determined to make sure our prisons are safe and places of rehabilitation.”

The news come at a major time for the prison, with appointment of new governor Steph Roberts-Bibb – who starts on August 22 – replacing David Rogers.

Statistics from NOMS Incident Reporting System: Assault incidents: 2000: 9,440 all prisons, Winchester 26; 2001: 10,720, 32; 2002: 11,562, 59; 2003: 11,877, 80 2004: 12,616, 73; 2005: 14,413, 59; 2006: 15,057, 45; 2007: 15,272, 31; 2008: 15,959, 32; 2009: 15,180, 60; 2010: 14,335, 63; 2011: 15,440, 70; 2012: 14,511, 60; 2013: 14,664, 89; 2014: 16,219, 144; 2015: 20,518, 238.

Attacks on staff: 2000: 2,192 all prisons, Winchester 7; 2001: 2,700, 10; 2002: 2,851, 14; 2003: 2,893, 13; 2004: 3,204, 17; 2005: 3,502, 12; 2006: 3,530, 10; 2007: 3,279, 4; 2008: 3,219, 3; 2009: 3,080, 16; 2010: 2,848, 11; 2011: 3,132, 14; 2012: 2,987, 17; 2013: 3,266, 25; 2014: 3,640, 48; 2015: 4,963, 81.