FOUR prison officers will be sent from HMP Risley to work at other prisons in the country over Christmas due to a 'major staffing crisis'.

More than 230 prison officers are being asked to work in other prisons in the run-up to Christmas as governors across England and Wales, according to the Howard League for Penal Reform indicate.

The charity has been shown official documents, drawn up in the autumn, which outline measures to tackle staff shortages in prisons during November and December.

They identify more than 50 prisons to be asked to provide officers to plug gaps elsewhere in the system.

The Risley officers will be sent to HMP Aylesbury and HMP Nottingham, the latter is maximum security.

A specific about staffing on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day indicates that around 56 officers will be asked to work in other prisons.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This provides evidence for a system under extreme stress.

"Taxpayers’ money is being squandered on shoring up a failing system.

“We know that each week a prison officer works in another prison can cost the taxpayer up to an additional £500, which adds up to hundreds of thousands over the months the emergency use of ‘detached duty’ has been operating."