A report into a Sheppey prison has warned that any further budget cuts are likely to create instability.

An Independent Monitoring Board review raised concerns that jobs already lost due to funding cuts at HMP Swaleside meant that prisoners were spending more time in cells.

This would lead to conditions “not conducive to a stable environment”, it said.

The sentiment has been echoed by Dave Todd, Prison Officers’ Association chairman for Swaleside.

He said: “The cuts are savage and they are causing incidents.”

Despite the situation, staff at the category B prison, which holds criminals on life sentences, were still providing a good standard of care for inmates, the report found.

It also says a change in governor and senior managers led to more effective leadership.

The result of inspections carried out at the Brabazon Road, Eastchurch, site between May 1, 2012 and April 30, 2013 was only recently made public.

During that time, a programme aimed at bringing down the running costs of the country’s jails was introduced.

The report notes that the staff mess was closed partly due to financial constraints despite its “excellent” food and service and it being “a great asset”.

It says: “This has led to a further lowering of staff morale.”

The inmates’ food has also been affected. The report said: “The Board continues to be concerned that further reductions in the food budget, at a time of rising prices, will lead to unacceptable compromises in the standard of meals.”

Cuts also meant there was a drop in the number of staff at the gym, which had been a centre of excellence for the work skills it offered. The report said: “It is sad that the high-level courses have been threatened.”

Other issues highlighted include a reported increase in the number of weapons, hooch and mobile phones being found and the illicit trade of Tramadol, a painkiller, was also a concern.

The level of violence has continued to be “unacceptably high”.

During the inspection period one prisoner died, thought to be self-inflicted, and there are still several outstanding coroner’s inquests, some of which are four years old.

“This situation is not satisfactory for the relatives of the deceased or the prison staff involved,” the report states.