Staff at one of Britain’s largest prisons were found asleep or locked in offices during an inspection that uncovered “appalling” squalor and violence, a watchdog has said, as it emerged the Government is taking over the privately-run jail...

The Ministry of Justice has now assumed control of the establishment from G4S for at least six months.

G4S welcomed the move, saying the prison, which it has managed since October 2011, faces “exceptional challenges”...

After an unannounced inspection of the prison concluded earlier this month, Mr Clarke [Chief Inspector of Prisons] triggered the “urgent notification” scheme to alert the Government to his findings...

“There has clearly been an abject failure of contract management and delivery,” he concluded...

Jerry Petherick, managing director of G4S Custody & Detention Services, said: “HMP Birmingham is an inner-city remand prison which faces exceptional challenges including increasingly high levels of prisoner violence towards staff and fellow prisoners.

“The well-being and safety of prisoners and prison staff is our key priority and we welcome the six month step-in and the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Justice to urgently address the issues faced at the prison.”