Assaults against prison staff in jails across Kent, including two on Sheppey, have increased in the last year.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice show prisoners lashed out at officers 547 times across all of the county’s establishments in 2018.

In 2017, there were 315 reports of staff being the targeted at work.

On Sheppey, in 2017 there were 61 attacks at Elmley and 106 in Swaleside, in 2018 there were 89 at Elmley and 183 at Swaleside.

At Cookham Wood assaults went from 105 to 157, Maidstone went from 15 to 24 and Rochester from 28 to 94 in the space of a year.

There were no incidents recorded for Standford Hill, and East Sutton Park for both years.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson said: “It doesn’t come as a great surprise to me because we know incidents are increasing.

“The reason for the increase, I believe, is two-fold.

“The first part is there’s an increasing level in our prisons of inmates coming from south London which has led to an increased element of gang culture.

"Second is because of once again the prevalence of drugs in prison and that also actually increases the level of violence.

“There is no simple explanation for this, there are lots of different aspects that play a part.

“My overwhelming concern is about the increase in violence against very hard-working and dedicated prison staff.”

He added: “We need to increase the number of prison officers, improve their terms and conditions to encourage more to work in prisons and reduce the pension age which is the priority for me.”

A Prison Service spokesman said inmates risked tough sentences for attacking staff, adding: “We do not tolerate assaults on our hard-working prison officers and that is why this government has doubled the maximum sentence for those who assault them.

“Last month the Prime Minister committed an extra £100 million on security to crack down on crime in prisons, and we are giving prison officers body worn cameras, police-style restraints and pepper spray to allow them to do their jobs more safely.”

Assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, Mick Pimblett, said: “The rise in the number of assaults on prison officers in Kent is reflective of what is happening throughout England and Wales.

“Prison officers in England and Wales work in the most violent workplaces in Europe.

“A workplace that is constantly challenged by overcrowding, understaffing, drugs, self-harm and violence.

“Whilst all of this is occurring HMPPS (HM Prison and Probation Service) refuses to provide prison officers with personal protective equipment such as PAVA spray to protect themselves and those in their care.

“The Prison Service is in crisis and the POA (Prison Officers’ Association) will continue to do all it can to protect its members’ health and safety.”

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