PRISONS are failing to recover from Tory attacks on the service over the last decade, POA national chairman Mark Fairhurst warned today.

Opening the union’s annual conference, which is being held under the slogan “cuts have consequences,” Mr Fairhurst highlighted the closure of more than 20 public-sector prisons, outsourcing of maintenance and the loss of over 25 per cent of the workforce.

Mr Fairhurst raised concerns that union branches had brought to the conference through motions on issues including non-existent training and staff safety.