Belmarsh prison – home to terrorists, killers and rapists – hit with terrifying staff crisis
Belmarsh prison has lost nearly a fifth of its key staff in the past three years
A STAFF crisis has rocked one of Britain’s toughest jails.
Belmarsh, which cages terrorists, killers and rapists has lost nearly a fifth of its key staff in three years.
The number on the highest grade officers at the last count was 430 compared to 346 in 2013, Ministry of Justice figures show.
Last night the cut was blasted by the Prison Officers Association.
The union’s Glyn Travis said: “The public should be hugely concerned that the UK’s most dangerous inmates are being guarded by less and less full-time officers.”
Belmarsh in South East London is one of eight category A high security prisons across England and Wales.
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In all, the eight jails have seen an exodus of almost 400 top-grade staff.
The Ministry of Justice said “We’ve taken immediate action to boost staff at ten of the most challenging prisons with 389 job offers.
"We are well on track to recruit the first 400 of the extra 2,500 frontline officers committed by the end of next month.”