Ministry of Justice figures reveal that up until last year 59 female staff and 24 male workers were caught.

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The number who were disciplined for “inappropriate behaviour” with lags has risen since 2017 — when female prison staff increased by 27 per cent to 15,000.

It comes after The Sun on Sunday revealed in February a crack Line of Duty-style anti-corruption unit is being “beefed up” to tackle the problem.

Strict prison rules prevent any form of relationship between staff and inmates to prevent officers being groomed and corrupted by organised crime gangs.

In some cases staff who breach the rules will be sacked and potentially imprisoned,

At HMP Berwyn in North Wales, 18 female staff were found to have had relationships with inmates since the prison opened in 2017.

One of the worst offending jails was The Mount prison, in Hemel Hempstead, where six officers have been disciplined for what are described as “inappropriate behaviour” with serving or ex-prisoners.

Last year health worker Meghan Woodham, who was based at HMP Risley, was jailed for six years after beginning an “inappropriate relationship” with jailed drugs kingpin Daniel Doran.

The drug dealer began an affair with Woodham allowing him to secure a steady supply of ketamine to feed his drug habit in jail and organise multi-million drug deals while serving his sentence.

His operation was uncovered when prison officers became suspicious about his relationship, prompting an investigation by the Prison Service’s counter-corruption unit and police.

She was later charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

A Prison Service spokesman said the majority of staff are honest and “we are catching more of the small minority who are not”.