Inspectors have described a Kent prison as 'dangerous', with levels of violence too high and more than half of inmates saying it was easy to get drugs.

More than two thirds of the 1,100 men at Swaleside on Sheppey said they felt unsafe.

However, a report from the HM Inspectorate of Prisons said there were signs the jail was starting to stabilise.

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At the last visit in 2014, inspectors found significant staffing shortages were having a negative impact and safety, education, work and training.

However, in the latest inspection they found conditions had got worse, with safety being of particular concern.

Many staff had become demotivated and overwhelmed and many were temporary or inexperienced. There had been four governors in the past five years.

Highlighted in the report were:

• Levels of violence were too high and many incidents were serious – 69% of prisoners surveyed said they had felt unsafe at some time
• The use of force was high and the documentation associated with its use and justification was totally inadequate
• 52% of prisoners surveyed said it was easy to get drugs at the prison, 45% said the same about alcohol, and the diversion of prescribed medication was worrying
• The segregation unit was filthy and poor in all respects
• There was a shortfall of some 200 available work, training or education places
• And much offender management work was inadequate

Certain aspects had improved since the last inspection, with inspectors pleased that men had single cells, with the opportunity to cook their own food in wing kitchens.

There were also good plans in place to improve the range and quality of work available in the prison, and some good work was being done to help inmates maintain contact with families and friends.

Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke said: "Despite the fact that by any standards this is a poor report about a dangerous prison, we left Swaleside with some optimism that the prison had started to stabilise.

"The new governor appeared to have a very clear understanding of the challenges he and his team faced.

"He had re-energised his senior management team, and his approach was one of visible and energetic leadership.

"The very early signs, at the time of the inspection, were that his determination to grip difficult issues had been welcomed by many prisoners and staff alike, who told us they wanted to see the prison improve.

"The challenge will be to build and maintain this early momentum and embed the changes needed.”