A DORSET prison is performing worse than it did before the Covid pandemic, according to the latest government rating. 

HMP Guys Marsh’s performance has been rated as “concerning” by the Ministry of Justice in an annual report published last month. 

The prison, near Shaftesbury, was rated based on four main priority areas including security, training, drug and alcohol addictions, and readjustment to society. 

It scored 51 per cent in the year to March 2023 – a fall from 59 per cent in 2019-2020 when the ratings were last handed out. 

Bournemouth Echo: HMP Guys MarshHMP Guys Marsh

The Prison Reform Trust said the latest reports on prison performance show the system is experiencing a “perfect storm” of rising prison population and poor working conditions. 

Pia Sinha, chief executive of the independent charity, said the latest figures show the prison system is “chronically overburdened”. 

She added: “Prisons are experiencing a perfect storm of a rapidly rising prison population with nowhere to put them, and working conditions which are driving staff away in droves. 

“Faced with escalating violence, self-harm, appalling living conditions and prisoners left with nothing to do all day – the human cost of this crisis is shameful.” 

Read more: Staff and prisoner safety concerns at HMP Guys Marsh Dorset

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “The latest figures show that over half of all prisons are performing well and, where there are issues, we are providing intensive support for those jails to drive long-term improvements, recruit extra staff, bolster security and boost training and work opportunities for prisoners so we can better protect the public.” 

A separate annual report from earlier this year revealed at Guys Marsh, a prisoner's death may have been caused by drinking a batch of toxic alcohol, while another almost died after having his throat slit. 

Inspectors say prisoners had been using toxic and dangerous chemicals such as hand sanitisers and cleaning fluids to make alcohol. 

The report also highlighted “real concerns as to the safety of staff and prisoners”. 

It found that there were 205 incidents of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, averaging 17.3 a month, spiking in August. 

However, the report did congratulate the prison for illicit item finds and drug rehabilitation work.