STRONG words of support for Dartmoor Prison were voiced by West Devon and Torridge MP, John Burnett.

Mr Burnett who has visited the prison many times said: 'I am surprised at the tone of the new chief inspector of prisons report because the previous one four years ago by Sir David Ramsbottom was a good report for which "the governor and his staff deserve considerable credit"'.

When the chief inspector visited the prison in September 2001, it was in transition from a category B to category C prison.

'Dartmoor had for years been taking some of the most violent, deceitful criminals in the country. Its buildings — many of which are listed — are very difficult to adapt to fit in with modern prison techniques.

'There are many hidden and corner areas which are very difficult to supervise,' said Mr Burnett.

'I know many people who work at Dartmoor. The staff at the prison do a very difficult job and the vast majority work conscientiously and sympathetically to rehabilitate offenders. They believe they have been unjustly picked upon and condemned.

'Morale is low. Let us hope that in future the staff at Dartmoor will have the support and the resources from the government and the leadership from the prison service which they need to do their crucial job,' he said.

Mr Burnett said he had not seen the 'listener cell' which the report described as 'appalling' and which had been dismantled by the end of the inspection.

However, he said the cell had been introduced following an incident where a prisoner had attacked a Samaritan listener, but he was glad it had now been taken out of use.

'A number of prisoners have said to me they felt personally more secure in the disciplined atmosphere of Dartmoor,' he said.

Mr Burnett was also critical of the report's author, new chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers. 'In interviews, the new chief inspector appeared to contradict herself,' he said.

'She has been critical of some staff in the prison for failing to treat prisoners with dignity, yet she says staff have not had adequate leadership.

'She fails to mention the stress the staff endure every day, dealing with some of the most brutal and unpredictable prisoners in the country,' he said.

Mr Burnett said he hoped there might be some positive outcomes from the report.

He hoped there might be a reverse in the four per cent per anum 'efficiency' cuts in recent years and increased emphasis on education and training in prison, to 'enable prisoners to be reformed and reintegrated into society'.

What the report said: IN the scathing report, the new Chief Inspector of Prisons said: 'Dartmoor felt like the prison time forgot'.

Particular concern was expressed about:

l The segregation unit where prisoners were exercised in 12-foot square granite 'pens' and distressed and suicidal prisoners were locked into a 'cage' of wire mesh with a perspex screen through which they could communicate their problems, and which continued to be used in defiance of a Governor's order to close it. It was eventually dismantled during the time the inspection took place.

l The pens and cage were 'degrading, and more appropriate for dangerous animals' said Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers.

l The atmosphere within the prison was one of over-control, which could be perceived as intimidation.

l Nearly one in four prisoners randomly surveyed as part of the report claimed to have been verbally abused by staff.

l Prisoners were referred to by some staff, in front of inspectors, as the 'rubbish' of the prison system. Worse comments were reported to inspectors by prisoners and the Board of Visitors.

l The report said Dartmoor had little to offer prisoners, and little to be proud of except its 'hard' image.

l Staff were said to exaggerate the 'dangerousness' of prisoners to justify Dartmoor's reputation as a 'hard' prison.

l A total of 108 recommendations were set out in the report.

In conclusion, Mrs Owers, said: 'If it is to survive and develop, it is not enough to recategorise Dartmoor, close its segregation unit and upgrade its buildings, welcome though these changes are.

'Dartmoor needs a new culture, role and resources, so that staff can use their considerable experience to manage and motivate, rather than control, difficult prisoners.'