A REPORT into staffing cuts at Dartmoor Prison by a charity has been labelled as 'misleading' by the prisons minister. Last week the Howard League for Penal Reform revealed that Dartmoor Prison has seen prison officers reduced from 163 to 100 from September 2010 to September 2013 — a cut of 39 per cent. The charity warns, in its latest research briefing paper, Breaking point: Understaffing and overcrowding in prisons, that suicides, assaults and riots 'will become increasingly common unless urgent action is taken to increase officer numbers and reduce prisoner numbers'. Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: 'The prison system is at breaking point. Everyone should be concerned at the crisis in prisons as when people come out of jail they are more likely to inflict more crime on us. 'Ministers and various MPs have used different figures to try to minimise the impact of prison closures, but the statistics in this report show the true picture. 'Governors, inspectors and prison officers are joining the Howard League in warning the government that prisons are not just failing, they are dangerous. 'Violence and drug use is out of control and we will all suffer the consequences. This is the most irresponsible government penal policy in a generation.' But a statement this week by prisons minister Jeremy Wright said: 'These figures present a misleading picture of the prison estate.  'Our approach to staffing levels has been agreed with the unions to ensure we run safe, efficient and decent prisons with prison officers back in frontline roles where they are most needed. 'Where there are local staffing issues we are taking action to resolve this, including a widespread recruitment campaign and the creation of a reserve force of officers who can be used nationally when required. 'We are modernising the prison estate to ensure best value for the taxpayer — not by cutting services or reducing quality but by fundamentally changing the way we operate with greater levels of education and purposeful activity as part of our commitment to rehabilitation.'