SCREW UP

More than 800 prison guards have been sacked and 4,700 disciplinary offences recorded in six years

The eye-watering figures show prison officers and staff misbehaving at the rate of more than two incidents a day across England and Wales

PRISON guards and staff have committed 4,700 disciplinary offences in six years – with 820 workers sacked from their jobs.

The eye-watering figures show prison officers and staff misbehaving at the rate of more than two incidents a day across England and Wales.

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A view along wing A of Wandsworth prison, south London

Category A Wakefield prison was the worst-offending jail for staff behaviour with 110 disciplinary charges alone.

Across the country 110 charges were also handed down to staff for “inappropriate” relationships with prisoners or ex-cons.

Another 60 cases of trafficking contraband including drugs were brought against prison employees as well as 210 attacks on prisoners.

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HMP Wandsworth – where high rates of staff misbehaviour was recorded with 100 charges

In 2014 prison officer Hannah Stewart, 27, was jailed for 12 months after having sex with a drug dealer at HMP Featherstone near Wolverhampton.

She fell for lag Andrelle Leedham, 26, and was caught trying to smuggle drugs, alcohol and mobile phones in her lunch bag for the con.

And in July 2014 married prison guard Amritpal Ahluwalia, 31, was handed a 15-month sentence after twice sleeping with Colette O’Flaherty at HMP Bronzefield, Surrey.

The majority of the 4,710 charges were dealt with by written warnings totalling 2,920 over the six years.

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Another 340 cases saw staff demoted or removed from promotion fields while 750 were sacked with an additional 70 “summarily” fired.

Prison staff were charged by officials 280 times over criminal convictions with another 80 incidents of police cautions.

Figures obtained from the Ministry of Justice show there were 70 cases of sexual harassment or assaults and 40 attacks on fellow colleagues.

Meanwhile jail staff were disciplined 160 times for being likely to endanger security or allow the escape of a prisoner while 70 were charged for falling asleep on duty.

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HMP Bronzefield in Ashford is the 10th privately-run prison in England

In January we reported how prison warden Steve Kennedy, 50, had been fired after pictures obtained by The Sun showed him falling asleep while guarding a gangland crook.

He had taken a nap while he was supposed to be cuffed to gangster Declan Madigan, 30, in hospital and was sacked along with two other staff members.

Other jails with high rates of staff misbehaviour include Woodhill and Wandsworth with 100 charges each, young offenders’ institute Feltham and Dartmoor with 90-a-piece and high-security Belmarsh prison with 80.

A top level Prison Service investigation is underway after a riot at troubled Bedford jail saw around 230 inmates go on the rampage.

The disturbance was “successfully resolved” late on Sunday night after guards and police riot officers spent more than six hours trying to bring the disorder under control.


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