LONG Lartin prison officers held a two hour vigil yesterday (Wednesday) morning as part of a national protest against Government plans which could see private companies take over.

Inmates were left in their cells instead of attending classes or the gym and dog handlers were called in to ensure maximum security while about 130 officers gathered outside the prison until 9.30am instead of starting their shifts.

It was called by the Prison Officers Association to protest the re-introduction of market testing at prisons in Brixton and Manchester.

This is aimed at making prisons more efficient and private and public sector bid against each other to run the jail. Officers yesterday feared if it continued, it would eventually come to Long Lartin.

Mick Redman, POA branch secretary at Long Lartin, said the only way the public sector could compete was to cut jobs but this increased the risk of assaults on officers and other inmates as well as compromising public safety.

Branch chairman Dave Arblaster said: "The assault rate in privately run prisons is much higher than Government prisons. "

He said: "We would rather not take action but it has come to a point when prison officers can't take anymore."

He said there are currently about 450 inmates at Long Lartin, which has an annual budget of about £15 million and 104 are category A prisoners.

Mr Arblaster said: "Each year we are told to make efficiency savings. We have to save £250,000 this year. We can't go any further or something will give."

Mr Redman added: "We couldn't cut staff down anymore without compromising our own or local people's safety."