MORE THAN 120 prison officers are protesting outside jails across Worcestershire in opposition to rising prison violence.

Officers stood outside HMP Long Lartin, near Evesham, and HMP Hewell, in Redditch, as part of a nationwide strike.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) held today's action (November 15) because of concerns about health and safety standards.

Dave Monger, POA branch secretary for Long Lartin, said: “You can’t do the job safely anymore. We are massively short staffed.

“I work with people who don’t want to get out of the car in the morning. About 60 to 70 officers are in the car park now having a day of protest.

“I know officers who have left Long Lartin and been told by doctors they may never work again due to mental stress. Some people can’t work under the pressure and crack.

“The prison is high security and holds the worst of the worst. We have some of the most dangerous people in the country at Long Lartin.

“The Ministry of Justice is interested in cutting costs and running prisons with the minimum number of staff.”

He added that there are now only 215 prison officers working at Long Lartin, 40 percent less than four years ago.

Mr Monger says there have been 16 serious assaults against staff in the last year and that three officers have to unlock in excess of 270 prisoners.

“Prisoners have complained to us that they are unsafe. It’s happening across the county. Officers are working in prisons that are totally unsafe,” he said.

Mr Monger claims the most recent murder in Long Lartin could have been prevented.

He says the murderer would have been searched in the past, and officers would have found the rock which he took into a workshop and used to kill another prisoner.

Officers are also not able to treat prisoners with mental illnesses, some of whom take their own lives, Mr Monger says.

HMP Hewell POA branch secretary, who has worked as a prison officer for 11 years, also wants to see a reduction in violence.

"Over 60 officers are protesting outside the prison. Hewell is particularly violent. We are dealing with people’s lives here," he said.

“We are crying out for help. They have reduced staff levels on the landings. We have seen a rise in violence and a reduction in prison behaviour.

“We also need action on phones and drones. We need blockers and jammers. It’s about spending money wisely.”

The official claims staff levels have been significantly reduced year-on-year and there are now 150 officers at Hewell.

“We do turn people’s lives around. We have real success stories. But this is making it more dangerous for them and us,” he said.

HMP Hewell was one of only six prisons to be considered ‘of serious concern’ in government ratings this year.

The emergency cover put on by officers during the strike is limited to distributing medication and dealing with serious incidents in the prisons.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "There is no justification for this action.

"We have been engaged in constructive talks with the POA over the last two weeks and have provided a comprehensive response to a range of health and safety concerns.

"The Government has announced an additional 2,500 frontline officers to help reduce violence in prisons.

"We have well established contingencies in place to manage prisons and keep the public safe but we are clear that this constitutes unlawful industrial action, and we will seek remedy in the courts."