HMP Hewell in Tardebigge is experiencing falls in the number of frontline prison officers despite rising numbers of prisoners, high suicide rates and a failing performance rating.

The number of frontline officers working in public-sector prisons has fallen over the last year, despite Ministry of Justice plans to recruit additional staff to help respond to the highest levels of violence, suicide and self-injury says the Howard League for Penal Reform.

There were 1,117 frontline officers (full time equivalent) in prisons in the West Midlands region in June 2016, down from 1,200 a year earlier.

Figures at the Tardebigge prison have fluctuated but the general trend is towards fewer prison officers.

There were 220 prison officers in 2013, 170 in 2014, 190 in 2015 and 179 this year.

In February we reported that HMP Hewell was blighted high prisoner suicide rates, with three men committing suicide at the prison last year.

Last month we reported that the Tardebigge prison is "of serious concern" after the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) listed it as grade 1 - the worst possible rating.

The watchdog measures performance in four areas: public protection, reducing reoffending, decency and resource management and operational effectiveness.

Across the whole of England and Wales, the number of officers has fallen from 15,110 to 14,689.

Almost every region has seen frontline officer numbers fall in the last year, with the most significant reductions recorded in the East Midlands (8 per cent), the South West (7 per cent) and the West Midlands (7 per cent).

Previous research by the Howard League has shown how prison officer numbers were cut by 30 per cent between 2010 and 2013.

Today’s figures indicate that, in spite of the government’s recruitment drive, people remain unwilling to work in prisons under present conditions.

While officer numbers fell between June 2013 and June 2016, the prison population across England and Wales rose from 83,796 to 85,130 – putting more pressure on a failing system.

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "Reducing resources while allowing the prison population to grow unchecked has created a toxic cocktail of violence, death and human misery. These figures show how reductions in staffing and problems in recruiting and retaining new staff are feeding the problems behind bars."

"The Ministry of Justice can look again at its recruitment policies but only wide-ranging reforms, which include a serious attempt at reducing prison numbers, will move us away from institutions that shame the nation."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Safe prisons are fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system.

"Our dedicated prison staff, who support tens of thousands of prisoners every day, are vital to the safe running of our prisons.

"We have recruited 2,900 staff over the last 12 months and are taking significant action to make sure we have appropriate staffing levels.

"The Secretary of State is determined to make sure our prisons are safe and places of rehabilitation and will set out her plans for reform shortly.

"To boost recruitment of staff across the prison estate, we are running a record level of national recruitment campaigns for prison officers; reviewing reward and remuneration packages for staff; continuing to work with the Ministry of Defence Career Transition Partnership to attract service leavers into the prison service and developing outreach activity into schools and colleges to highlight the opportunities available."