SELF-HARM, fighting inmates and attacks on staff have all continued to rise - and in some cases doubled - at HMP Haverigg, according to new data.
Figures revealed by the Ministry of Justice's quarterly update into safety in custody are particularly shocking for 2016 - the year the Category C prison's population was reduced to its lowest ever.
There were 350 incidents of self harm recorded last year, more than double that of 2015, and more than four times that of 2014.
Staff were assaulted 36 times, seven of which were classed as serious - compared with 19 attacks the previous year, four of which were serious.
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Doug Wilson is the councillor for Haverigg and has been involved with the prison for a number of years.
He said: "Overall I think the figures appear quite shocking and the self harm figures are quite startling.
"On the face of it they look disappointing but the officers and management do have a very difficult job to do.
"I do have a great deal of sympathy for the people who work there- they don't make a lot of money and we ask a lot of them and I don't think they are equipped to deal with violence.
"Any organisation which is reliant on tax payers' money is constrained and they all have had to tighten their belts.
"The current prison at Haverigg is struggling to deal with the requirements of ensuring prisoners are safe and protected and that in turn, staff are looked after."
After parts of the prison site were deemed not fit for purpose, the number of inmates was gradually reduced in 2016.
At the beginning of the year it housed to 654 men, falling to 556 in August, 466 in September and 286 - its current capacity in October.
Despite this prisoners still managed to carry out 107 assaults on each other that year.
Mr Wilson added: "I do think one big problem is drugs - the effects of these horrible substances can cause all sorts of problems."
In a statement given in reaction to the figures, justice secretary David Lidington said: “I have seen first-hand the challenges our dedicated and hardworking prison staff face.
"Boosting the front line is critical to achieving safety and the number of prison officers we are recruiting is rising, with the number of new prison officers joining the service at its highest level since 2010. ”
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