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A female prison officer has become the fourth worker in nine months to be arrested for alleged 'inappropriate relationships' with inmates at HMP Dovegate.

It is understood the latest suspect has resigned and been banned from working in prisons.

Prison campaigners say the number of alleged misconduct cases at the Category B jail is 'a cause for concern'.

Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "There will always be a risk of staff forming inappropriate relationships with prisoners, although the fact Dovegate has seen a number of (suspected) cases of late should be a cause for concern.

"The reason why this might have happened is harder to pin down without more information.

(Image: Burton Mail)

"In general, both public and private prisons have seen an influx of new, inexperienced staff in recent times, and there is a risk that newer recruits are more susceptible to being drawn into misconduct with prisoners."

Dovegate, which counts murderers and sex offenders among its 1,147 inmates, is run by private firm Serco on a Government contract.

Since November last year, four workers have faced police action for alleged inappropriate relationships with prisoners.

One arrested last year was accused of relationships with 'more than one prisoner' and 'trafficking illicit items' into the facility.

It is thought the prison, which is just outside Marchington, is now tightening up its recruitment process.

A Serco spokesman said: "We can confirm there is an ongoing investigation into this matter, but do not wish to comment further."

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Officers from Staffordshire Police arrested a 38-year-old woman from Cannock at Dovegate Prison on Thursday, August 23, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

"She has been released under investigation pending further enquiries."

It comes months after prison officer Adrian Kedzierski, 50, of Craven Street, Burton, was jailed for 40 months for smuggling mobile phones and Class B drugs into Dovegate.

Prison carpentry teacher Andrew Julian, 32, of Main Street, Bradbourne, was jailed last month after cannabis valued at nearly £60,000 was found in his locker.

The previous 'inappropriate relationships' allegations

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "On November 25, 2017, a 28-year-old woman from Newcastle-under-Lyme was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

"She was subsequently released under investigation and as the investigation is ongoing, there is no further update at this time.

"On January 26, a 25-year-old woman from Newcastle-under-Lyme was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

"She was subsequently released under investigation and, as the investigation is on-going, there is no update at this time.

"On January 30, a 21-year-old woman from Burton was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and conveying an article into a prison. She was subsequently released under investigation and as the investigation is on-going, there is no update at this time."

One of the workers arrested was a prison officer, one was a nurse contracted to Care UK and the role of the third staff member is unknown.

The Burton Mail and Uttoxeter Advertiser have contacted Staffordshire Police for updates on their cases, but have yet to receive a response.

The latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) stats show HMP Dovegate is just 13 prisoners shy of its 1,160-inmate limit.

That means it is running at 99 per cent of its capacity and way over the 1,064-inmate limit the MoJ earmarks for a "good, decent standard of accommodation".