A PRISON watchdog has called for higher staffing levels at Blakenhurst prison, in Tardebigge, as the Home Office considers bids for running the prison for the next decade.

Blakenhurst is currently privately-run by UK Detention Services, but Patricia Bradbury, chairman of the Board of Visitors, said its contract allowed it to run with a lower staff than state-operated jails.

A revised contract is due to be drawn up as bids are considered in the next few weeks for who will continue to run the prison, whether it is a private company or the Prison Service.

Mrs Bradbury said: "We recognise the prison is run quite well, but staff work long hours because there are fewer than in state-run prisons on some wings.

"One would hope in the new contract allowance will be made for greater numbers of staff."

A report drawn up by the volunteers on the board also feared that medical confidentiality rules made it difficult for custody staff to be kept informed about schizophrenic prisoners.

There were 27 life prisoners being held without sufficient provision for them, the report added.

Mrs Bradbury said: "They have got to come to terms with having no realistic release date.

"They see other prisoners coming and going, it leaves them feeling very low. It's not right and it's not just."

A spokesman for UK Detention Services said that these problems applied across the prison service and they were doing everything they could to minimise the effects.

He said they had fulfilled the terms of their contract for staffing levels and were waiting to hear the results of their new tender.

The report praised the drug and alcohol-free wings which has helped to reduce the number of positive drug tests.