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THE JUSTICE Secretary has denied she is “out of her depth” as she clashed with a Sky News presenter over claims Britain’s jails are in meltdown.

Liz Truss was defending her position after a walkout by prison officers this week and a number of serious incidents involving inmates.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss denied she was out of her depth in an angry exchange
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Justice Secretary Liz Truss denied she was out of her depth in an angry exchangeCredit: Sky News
Pictures emerged of prisoners inside HMP Guys Marsh using drink and drugs
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Pictures emerged of prisoners inside HMP Guys Marsh using drink and drugsCredit: SWNS
The prisoners were pictured getting takeaways delivered to their cells
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The prisoners were pictured getting takeaways delivered to their cellsCredit: SWNS

Before she headed for talks with union bosses the Cabinet minister said plans to deal with the problems were working.

But interviewer Sarah-Jane Mee asked her: “Senior legal figures say you are out of your depth. How out of your depth are you?"

The Justice Secretary refused to be drawn, responding: "I am getting to sorting out this problem and ever since I was appointed in July I’ve been clear prison safety is my number one priority.

It comes amid talks over strike action by prison guards over safety
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It comes amid talks over strike action by prison guards over safetyCredit: Reuters
She clashed with Sarah-Jane Mee over the current state of the prison service
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She clashed with Sarah-Jane Mee over the current state of the prison serviceCredit: Sky News

"We’ve rolled out the drugs tests, we’re getting the new staff in. We’re getting the money for the 10 most challenging prisons."

Ms Mee cut in and asked her again: "Justice Secretary, are you out of your depth?"

A rattled Ms Truss said: "Excuse me! Can I finish? Can I finish my answer?"

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She went on: “We have got serious issues with the levels of violence in our prisons.

"What I'm doing about that is, first of all cracking down on drugs and mobile phones - we have introduced new testing for psychoactive substances which we have rolled out across the prison estate.

"We are also recruiting more staff to make sure we make our prisons safer."

Inmates jailed for drug dealing and bank robbery enjoy burgers in their cells
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Inmates jailed for drug dealing and bank robbery enjoy burgers in their cellsCredit: SWNS
She said her department was getting "the money for the 10 most challenging prisons"
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She said her department was getting "the money for the 10 most challenging prisons"Credit: Sky News
The Cabinet minister says admits there are "serious problems" but said her measures to fix it were working
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The Cabinet minister says admits there are "serious problems" but said her measures to fix it were workingCredit: EPA

Her meeting with the Prison Officers Association (POA) will take place later after 10,000 workers went on strike on Tuesday over concerns about violence and "chronic staff shortages".

The government won a High Court injunction to force them back to work because it is illegal for prison officers in England and Wales to strike.

The industrial action followed a riot at HMP Bedford, a fatal stabbing at Pentonville prison and a jail-break by two inmates from the same facility.

And this week images on Facebook showed lags enjoying steaks and takeaways as well as drink and drugs inside HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset.

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