A FORMER prison officer who was sacked after blowing the whistle on unsafe staffing levels inside Lewes Prison says feels vindicated after inspectors have raised the same concerns.

Low staffing levels have left the men's prison struggling to cope with rising violence and other problems, an official inspection has found.

The safer custody team was not functioning due to lack of staff when inspectors visited in December last year, they said, and in the previous six months only 37 of 62 violent incidents had been investigated.

Ms Lennon, who told the Argus in August 2014 how low staffing levels were adding to dangers in the prison, said: "It was nearly two years ago that I raised this and it is only getting worse.

"You used to have time to be able to talk to and get to know your prisoners - you could help sort out problems and they had confidence in you.

"Now the prisoners don't have time to do that, they get frustrated and it causes problems. Also if you don't have officers on the landing they cannot see what is going on."

The report published today (Tues) from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons said levels of violence in the prison were "very high", with 111 assaults on prisoners in the previous six months compared to 42 last time, and 25 assaults on staff compared to six at the last inspection.

Inspectors said there was a team of "violence reduction representatives" in place, but the lack of safer custody staff meant they were not well supported.

They added that a lack of escort staff meant prisoners missed external hospital appointments.

Inspectors also raised concerns about new arrivals being placed in the segregation unit because the first night centre was full of sex offenders, but praised good relationships between staff and prisoners.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the report showed Lewes was "struggling even to fulfil its primary purpose – to keep prisoners, staff and the public safe".

She added: “Lewes reflects the shambles and the shame of the prison estate and the systemic challenges it faces.”

Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said he was pleased the chief inspector had recognised there were a number of strengths at HMP Lewes.

He added: “It is a testament to the hard work of staff that the prison is clean, and decent, and that relationships between staff and prisoners are positive, and that resettlement support for prisoners is a strength.

“Improving safety is a priority and the Governor has put plans in place to address each of the inspectorate concerns, including provision of additional training for staff to better support vulnerable prisoners”.