Hundreds of assaults in Midland prisons revealed

HMP Oakwood, the £150 million privately-run prison near Wolverhampton, has the third highest assaults figure in the country, with 137 reported in 2013.

Neighbouring Featherstone recorded 16 while Brinsford, which houses young offenders, recorded 59.

HMP Birmingham, which is now run by private firm G4S, recorded 62 assaults on staff and HMP Stafford recorded four.

Overall, assaults are down on 10 years ago apart from at Brinsford, where there were 34 assaults in 2004.

It comes 10 days after the Express & Star reported allegations that assaults at Featherstone Prison near Wolverhampton were going 'unpunished' and that prisoners were able to get hold of a synthetic cannabis-type drug called Black Mamba.

The figures were revealed in response to a Parliamentary question by South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, who said concerns about Featherstone had also been raised with him.

Mr Williamson asked what steps the Ministry of Justice was taking to ensure assaults were 'vigorously' investigated and that the perpetrators are appropriately punished.

He 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.

There were 3,148 assaults on prison staff across all UK prisons in 2013.

HMP Oakwood was the third worst prison nationally, after HMP Thameside and HMP Feltham.

Mr Williamson said: "I am glad that action is being taken to address these appalling statistics.

"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."

Prisons minister Jeremy Wright said: "We do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and take any instance extremely seriously. We are working closely with the police and CPS to develop a new joint approach to report crimes in prison – this included pushing for prosecutions when our staff are attacked.

"We are comprehensively reviewing how we manage violence in prisons to introduce further improvements to ensure prisons are safer places for everyone."

The figures go up to the end of 2013.

But sources claimed there had been five staff assaulted or injured within three days this year at Featherstone, including one case of a worker being hit in the face with a broom handle.

HMP Oakwood next door has also been beset with various problems, including prisoners holding a nine-hour stand-off with guards in January.

The Prison Service said independent inspectors recently described HMP Featherstone as 'very effective' and praised the relationships between staff and prisoners. They also commended the support provided to offenders with drug and alcohol problems. The service said staffing levels were appropriate for a 'safe and efficient' prison.