THE chief of prisons in Wales believes campaigners fighting the housing of sex offenders in Prescoed open prison have little chance of overturning the controversial policy, the Argus can reveal.

John May, the operational manager for prisons in Wales, told the Argus: "It is very unlikely the policy would be changed. If I was a gambling man, I wouldn't put money on the policy being changed."

His admission comes in response to allegations made by action group campaigner Paul Starling, accusing Mr May of "breathtaking complacency and arrogance" over a list of questions he sent him.

Mr Starling, chairman of Usk and Communities Action Group, criticised Mr May, and claims the prison chief failed to make an adequate reply for the controversial policy.

But Mr May hit back, and said he had provided comprehensive answers.

He said: "I believe Mr Starling has a particular agenda, and whatever information I provide him will never be enough."

He said the open prison policy had been in operation for more than 30 years, and was not something recently "dreamed up".

"In the last few years the number of sex offenders has increased very substantially and that means the existing policy needs to expand into other prisons.

"My challenge to the action group is to say,'Do they really think it is safe for the community if we keep sex offenders in closed prisons until the last day of their sentence, and then just turf them out?'"

Mr May said the group were told the policy would not be changed when they recently met Prisons Minister Paul Goggins.

A number of Usk people were opposed to it from the outset, but many became outraged when convicted child rapist Robert Neil Stokes escaped from the prison in October and went missing for almost 24 hours.

Feelings are running high in the town, and Mr Starling said his group has collected more than 20,000 signatures for a petition opposing the policy.

He wrote to Mr May, asking him to justify the policy and for detailed information on Stokes' criminal past. Mr Starling said he received an email from Mr May which refused to address the issues, and claimed he was "hiding behind a smokesrceen".

"This is a madcap policy which puts hundreds of innocent children and women at risk," said Mr Starling.

"Dangerous sex offenders could be in any part of South-East Wales within two or three hours.

"What research can he point to that indicates sex offenders benefit from being placed in an open prison in terms of a reduced risk of re-offending?

"The whole of South-East Wales is looking for answers to these questions

"He has taken nine days to come up with no answer, with the whole of the Home Office and Prison Service spin machine behind him.