THE number of officers at Dartmoor Prison is to be slashed under new staffing plans to be introduced when the jail's security status changes.

Prison officers reacted angrily to the news that uniform staff would be reduced while management would be spared from the cuts.

Officers have been told their numbers will be dramatically cut as part of Dartmoor's planned security change from a category B to a category C jail.

The staffing review internal report calculated that officer numbers after the security category change this autumn will be 112 — reduced from a figure of 180.

However, prison officers claim that the Prison Service's figure of 180 officers is misleading, with current staff levels actually around 150, meaning the government's proposed savings are based on this inaccuracy.

John Masterton, vice-chairman of the Prison Officers' Association criticised the decision to reduce basic grade officers while sparing prison management from cuts. 'We find this absolutely disgusting,' he said.

Mr Masterton described the move as a 'cost-cutting exercise', and said there had not been a regular prison officer workforce of 180 for at least five years.

The proposed staffing reduction will leave a ratio of one officer to every 6.5 inmates.

The staffing report by the Prison Services' management consultancy service, was unveiled by governor Graham Johnson at a staff meeting last Wednesday morning.

Mr Johnson said after the meeting; 'I am very aware of the anxiety that staff and their families have about the reductions which have to be made.

'This is a painful process but I can give my personal insurance that the reductions will be handled sensitively and that the security of staff and the general public will be a priority.'

Mr Johnson said he hoped that staff reductions would be chiefly dealt with by natural wastage, losing people who retire or obtain posts elsewhere through promotion or transfer.

A category C regime at Dartmoor would allow prisoners serving shorter sentences and those nearing the end of their sentence to prepare for release.