Staff at the prison are said to be under increasing pressure

According to the Chief Inspector of Prisons' study, the jail has seen an increase in addiction and violence.

Dr Andrew McLellan found that changes in the type of prisoners held had put "heavy demands" on staff.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said steps were being taken to address the situation.

In his report, Dr McLellan said the extra pressures had resulted in high levels of staff sickness.

Despite a 600% rise in the number of prisoners on methadone since March 2003, no progress has been made with regard to drug addictions work, the report noted.

A number of serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults have also taken place.

'Shift in demands'

A week before inspectors visited in March this year an incident occurred which resulted in an inmate being charged with murder.

And on the day before the inspection, a fight involving about 60 prisoners broke out in the exercise yard.

Since the last inspection in March 2003, all young offenders previously held at Dumfries have been transferred to Polmont Young Offenders' Institution, with adult prisoners from Barlinnie taking their places.

Little progress has been made with regard to addictions work or health care Dr Andrew McLellan

Dr McLellan said the change represented "a significant shift in demands" on the prison.

"The change in the prisoner population, combined with a number of other factors, has created a number of challenges for Dumfries: not all of which the prison has been able to meet," he said.

He added: "An unprecedented amount of escort duties, high levels of staff sickness, more prisoners with addictions issues, and an ever increasing number of prisoners have created these challenges.

"Little progress has been made with regard to addictions work or health care.

"The availability of work places has decreased and little progress had been made in relation to meal times at weekends.

"There has been one escape and a number of serious incidents of violence since the last inspection."

Scottish Prison Service spokesman Tom Fox said the upsurge in assaults was being tackled.

Any violence is unacceptable but we have to be realistic about the type of individuals that some of our staff have to deal with on a daily basis Tom Fox SPS

He said: "An analysis of incidents of violence is currently under way with a view to developing an action plan for Dumfries which will draw on the best practice examples from across the estate.

"Any violence is unacceptable but we have to be realistic about the type of individuals that some of our staff have to deal with on a daily basis."

The report, published on Thursday, focused on issues raised in the last full report completed in March last year.

Coming in for particular criticism in this year's review was the prison's drug strategy.

Dr McLellan noted that the prison's Drug Strategy Manager, previously dedicated to the role, now had to carry out his drug duties in addition to a full time shift manager's post.

"The impact of this has been that the drug strategy at Dumfries has at best stalled and in some areas has deteriorated," the report stated.

The review showed many of the recommendations made in last year's report had not been implemented.

'Significant pressure'

A "re-invigoration" of the entire routine in the female unit was not achieved.

Neither had the prison introduced a basic drug awareness course to its induction programme, as recommended in the 2003 report.

Inspectors also found the psychology support at the jail did not match the need of prisoners, with health care generally under "significant pressure".

The report suggested Dumfries should consider developing an anti-violence strategy to help address the problem.