GROWING numbers of prisoners are being left locked in cells with little or no access to education, training or rehabilitation because of staff shortages despite repeated government assurances that the problem was being tackled.

A report by the Prisons Inspectorate on Norwich Prison published today found 65 per cent of prisoners were locked up during the working day while classes and workshops operated below capacity because of staff shortages.

Inspectors also found that the problem was in line with the national trend on staffing.

They discovered high levels of violence, use of force, self-harm and three self-inflicted deaths since the inspectors’ last visit.

Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor identified a lack of a stable and experienced staff group as a principal cause of the prison’s difficulties.

There was a shortage of officers and in the past year the level of resignations had been very high, he said.

Prisons reform group the Howard League for Penal Reform said the report showed that “rather than providing productive sentences, inadequate staffing contributes to a deepening prison overcrowding crisis and an alarming rise in levels of violence, self-harm and deaths in custody.”

Director Andrew Neilson said: “Rather than continuing with plans to expand prison capacity in coming years, the government must focus resources on easing the strain on the prison system through increasing officer numbers and reducing prisoner numbers — before the situation reaches breaking point.”

The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment.