PRISONS are facing a “perfect storm” caused by increasing prisoner numbers and staff shortages, campaigners warned today.

The Prison Reform Trust said prisons in England and Wales are reaching crisis point, with the threat of yet more deaths, self-harm and violence.

A government white paper on reforming the prisons system plans to house 20,000 more prisoners on top of the record 80,000 already incarcerated.

Trust director Peter Dawson said: “A perfect storm is coming, and ministers must not think they can ride it out by cramming more prisoners into dilapidated prisons regularly condemned by the chief inspector.

“Too many prisoners and too few staff led to an explosion in deaths, self-harm and violence in the last decade — there can be no excuse for not understanding the consequences of doing the same again.”

Mr Dawson said that even if the government meets its targets on new prison places, “the same number of prisoners will still be forced to live in prisons where inspectors repeatedly find physical conditions falling well below acceptable standards, and the typical day is spent mostly locked behind a cell door.”

Prison officer numbers fell by 2,587 last year — 11 per cent — and the white paper pledges recruitment of 5,000 new prison officers.

Mick Pimblett, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said: “We find it difficult to believe how the government intends to do that without improving pay and conditions.”

He said cash earmarked for more prison places should be spent on services to “prevent offending in the first place.”

The Ministry of Justice was invited to comment.