Assaults on prison officers contributed to a rise in absenteeism

Prison officers in England and Wales took more sick days than any other group of workers in the UK, the National Audit Office (NAO) found.

Female officers missed an average of 22 days, while male officers took 16.

The Prison Officers Association said assaults and hostile working conditions were to blame for the rising rates of absence among workers.

Missed target

The NAO's report to Parliament showed absence rates had increased since its last assessment in 1999.

Overall the service, which employs around 45,000 in England and Wales, averaged 14.7 days of sick leave per person, missing its target of nine days and rising from 12.6 days in 1997-98.

Latest figures suggest the rate for 2003-04 will be 13.3 days per person.

The total of 668,337 recorded sick days was the equivalent of a year's work by almost 3,000 staff, the report said.

Any reduction in working days lost would free resources for reducing re-offending rates Sir John Bourn, National Audit Office

Women's prisons and young offender institutions were among the prisons worst affected by absences, the report said.

But no link between prison overcrowding and sickness rates was apparent.

Prison administrative staff took an average of nine sick days, putting them below the average for civil servants.

Sir John Bourn, the NAO's Comptroller and Auditor General, said the service had improved recording of staff absence.

"The Prison Service has made good progress in tightening up its procedures and now has a better grip on the performance of establishments," he said.

"The average sickness rate remains high, however.

"Any reduction in working days lost would free resources which could be used, for instance, to improve regimes for reducing re-offending rates or deal with the increased number of prisoners being held in custody."

Improving morale

Anxiety, stress and depression, resulting from accidents and assaults by prisoners, were among reasons given by the report for rising levels of sickness.

The number of recorded assaults on staff leading to absence increased from 397 in 1999-2000 to 693 in 2002-03.

Mr Bourn said prison governors could help cut absence rates by being more proactive in methods of staff management.

Cutting sickness rates would "depend on governors working more closely with staff to improve morale and overcome a culture of absenteeism prevalent in some prisons".

Sickness absence has fallen since new attendance rules were introduced - but it is still too high Home Office spokeswoman

Conservative home affairs spokeswoman Cheryl Gillan said the figures were "truly worrying".

"Prison officers often take the brunt of last-minute planning by the government, are often on the receiving end of overcrowding and also have to deal with the constant moving of prisoners.

"The government's policy on prisons has failed both the prisoners and the prison staff alike."

A Home Office spokeswoman told BBC News Online the Prison Service fully accepted the NAO's findings.

"Sickness absence has consistently fallen since new attendance rules were introduced in November 2002.

"But while this is an improvement, it is still too high."

She said assaults on staff explained a small proportion of absences but that problem was being addressed.

"Assaults and accidents account for 7% of all sickness absences, about one day of the 13.3 days average sickness for last year.

"About 6,000 staff a year are seen by occupational health specialists, and the Prison Service is developing additional occupational support services for staff."