Hundreds of attacks on prison staff at Midland jails are revealed

During 2014, a total of 294 assaults on workers at Featherstone, Oakwood, Stafford, Birmingham, Brinsford, Swinfen Hall and Stoke Heath prisons were recorded.

HMP Oakwood, the £150 million privately-run prison near Wolverhampton, had the 12th highest assaults figure out of 146 sites across the country, with 63.

But that total has more than halved since 2013, when it was third highest in England.

Bosses say they have cracked down on the issue since the prison was beset with various problems, including prisoners holding a nine-hour stand-off with guards.

And nationally the number of assaults has risen by 11 per cent from 3,266 to 3,637

The number increased on the previous year at neighbouring Featherstone, Birmingham and Stoke

Featherstone recorded 24 - up from 16 - while Brinsford, which houses young offenders, recorded 69, which was 12 lower than the previous year.

There were 89 assaults at HMP Birmingham in Winson Green, a increase of 27, and 34 Stoke Heath, which was up from 21.

Stafford's number fell from four to two.

Oakwood prisoners took over two levels of Cedar wing at 5pm on January 4 last year, barricading themselves inside and putting glue in locks to prevent them from working.

Prisoners threw TVs and even tried to tunnel out as they ran amok. Windows were smashed and booby-traps set, while a pool table was tipped over and large flat-screen TVs thrown down the stairs.

In 2013 the Express & Star reported allegations that assaults at Featherstone were going 'unpunished' and that prisoners were able to get hold of a synthetic cannabis-type drug called Black Mamba.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson said: "Prison staff are required to do an extremely difficult job, in often challenging conditions, and we need to ensure that they are free to carry out their duties without fear of being violently assaulted.

"These criminals need to learn that any violent behaviour will be met with severe punishment. It has to be made extremely clear that assaults will not be tolerated in our prisons."

Last year Mr Williamson was told there was a 'new approach' where the Ministry was working with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to push for prosecutions when prison staff are attacked.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The National Offender ManagementService take assaults on prison staff, prisoners and visitors to prison extremely seriously and we do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison.

"We are also working closely with the police and CPS to develop a new joint protocol to report crimes in prison – this includes pushing for prosecutions when our staff are attacked."