Justice secretary Michael Gove warned he will 'lose control' over crisis in prisons

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Justice Secretary and former Conservative Party leadership contender Michael Gove has been accused of being "absent" as Britain's prisons have been plunged into crisis and hit by a series of staff walkouts. He said: "But frankly the Secretary of State has been absent in the last few weeks and we have had an inadequate and reactive response to each crisis Mr Gove blamed the rise in violence in prisons partly on the growing number of young ex-gang members behind bars and the widespread use of new psychoactive substances - which used to be known as legal highs until they were outlawed in May. Mr Slaughter accused the Justice Secretary of not saying anything new and warned that prison staff are reporting incidents of violence on a "daily basis". "Over the weekend prison staff held crisis meetings across the country amid concerns about their security and safety in the workplace and incidents of violent disorder are reported on a daily basis."