BULLINGDON prison officers are set to get a pay rise as part of a new drive to boost staffing levels.

In a bid to address the jail safety crisis frontline personnel in London and the South East will earn up to £5,000 more under a £12m package, including those at Bullingdon Prison in Bicester.

The cash injection comes as ministers attempt to improve recruitment and retention of staff amid surging levels of violence behind bars in England and Wales.

Union chiefs have repeatedly warned of low morale across the service, while figures released earlier this week showed a new fall in officer numbers last year.

The new package will see pay improved for guards at jails where recruitment has proved most difficult.

Staff at 31 establishments will see their annual pay increase by between £3,000 and £5,000.

New recruits will also receive higher starting salaries of up to £29,500 - a rise of £5,000 on the current level.

The pay boosts will vary depending on how acute the recruitment difficulties are at the jail in question.

Justice Secretary Liz Truss said: "Prison officers do a challenging and demanding job day in and day out.

"I want frontline staff to know that their work, experience and loyal service is valued.

"We also want to attract the best new talent into the service, ensuring we recruit and retain the leaders of the future.

"These hard-working, dedicated staff are key to delivering our ambitious reform agenda, and it is right that we offer them greater support as we move ever closer to transforming prisons into places of safety and reform."

The move comes weeks after Ms Truss announced a national recruitment drive to add 2,500 officers as part of her wide-ranging prison reform agenda.