Erlestoke Prison governor Jayne Blake has been campaigning for more money to pay for extra security measure along the perimeter fence at her jail.

The money is not yet forthcoming and this week three prisoners went over the fence.

The men who fled, and were later recaptured, were hardly likely to be a danger to the public but residents could be forgiven for being concerned about the ease with which inmates were able to escape.

The blame should not lie with the governor or her staff. The jail is at the mercy of the prison service, which demands more and more from its staff while giving them less and less to work with. Morale is so low at Erlestoke officers have already held one vote of no confidence in the governor.

If the Government is serious about being tough on crime it must equip its prisons with enough staff and adequate security so that once a criminal is locked up, he or she stays there.