The Independent Monitoring Board published its annual findings this week and the report will be sent to the Secretary of State for Justice.

The report said there had been no significant disruption within the prison and incidents that had happened were dealt with effectively.

“The Governor and his staff have a challenging responsibility in looking after 600 prisoners, all of whom are serving long sentences requiring high-security conditions.

“Amongst these are some of the most dangerous and damaged prisoners. At any one time, a small number can require disproportionate resources and, in particular, staff time.

“In general, these prisoners are managed on the wings, and it is a credit to the staff that such a small proportion of the prisoners have to be located in the Segregation Unit.”

The report refers to drug problems within the prison but says staff are working to improve the situation. It said: “The continuing presence of drugs and the associated gang culture is being addressed constructively, and with some success, at the local Full Sutton level.”

The board calls for the issue to be addressed at a national level.

The board praised how diversity issues were handled in the prison. The report said: “Diversity issues, such as race equality, mental health, long-term illness and the increasing number of prisoners over retirement age, are being addressed in an innovative and positive manner.”

But it also said restrictions for financial, staffing and security reasons meant that there wasn’t enough focus on some wider diversity issues.

The report highlighted the progress made in the prison’s learning and skills department – where 82 per cent of offenders, who are eligible, were taking part in education programmes.