HMP Liverpool was running an "unacceptable regime"

Dartmoor in Devon and HMP Liverpool were both named and shamed this year as the poorest performers in Prison Service league tables.

Staff at the jails were warned a private company would take over unless a "performance testing" programme convinced managers to keep them in the public sector.

However, on Wednesday, Home Office Commissioner for Correctional Services, Martin Narey, confirmed improvements had been made and the jails have been offered new five-year contracts.

Improvements in working procedures had seen Dartmoor move from the lowest level in the new league table to the middle level, said Mr Narey.

Liverpool - the largest prison in western Europe with 1,500 inmates and previously described as running an "unacceptable regime" - has a level two placing.

'Continuing progress'

From next April both prisons will be closely monitored through a "service level agreement" with the Prison Service, which will set a range of minimum standards for every aspect of prison life.

Mr Narey said: "When I visited each of the prisons last month, I was delighted with the improvements made so far and am confident that progress will continue during the life of the service level agreement.

Dartmoor was branded the "prison time forgot"

"There is no doubt there have been advances at both prisons but there is still room for improvement and there can be no complacency."

New resettlement measures are being introduced with the aim of reducing re-offending at the jails.

Dartmoor was condemned by Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers in January 2002 as the "prison that time forgot".

But a follow-up report by Ms Owers this July said conditions at the 700-inmate jail had improved significantly.

Prison Service director general Phil Wheatley said: "The changes brought about at both establishments underlines the value of the performance testing process in bringing about real improvements.

"This award is a credit to both governors and their staff who have worked so hard to make this possible."