Fears riots could break out at prisons such as High Down as a result of a smoking ban have been heightened after similar legislation saw unrest break out in an Australian jail.

Bans were put in place in ‘open’ prisons this month, and early next year it will be extended to higher security facilities, the prisons minister Andrew Selous said.

The move comes after pressure from prison unions to include jails in the ban on smoking in public places, which came into effect in 2007.

In July a 15-hour riot broke out in a Melbourne prison - where prisoners lit fires and smashed windows - in reaction to a smoking ban.

Public Health England, in a report into smoking in prisons, said: "Smoking damages the health of offenders and those around them, exacerbates existing health inequalities for offenders compared with the general population and is likely to contribute to feelings of marginalisation."

The partner of one High Down prisoner, who wished to remain anonymous, warned it could lead to ‘riots and a lot of trouble’.

She said her partner, who is serving 12 months in High Down for drug-related offences, spends ‘up to 24 hours a day’ in his cell at the weekend, and the boredom factor would contribute to unrest.

She said: "A very, very high number of prisoners smoke and while they’re working during the week, they need something to do to pass the long hours at the weekend.

"A big reason why they smoke is boredom and if you take that away from them there will be a lot of anger, needlessly."

Smokers’ rights advocacy group Forest echoed this, saying that the ‘highly stressful nature’ of prisons would be exacerbated by a withdrawal of cigarettes.

Director Simon Clark said: "While smoking isn’t a right, it does seem rather heavy-handed and petty to take it away from prisoners.

"The prison authorities should be more pragmatic about this.

"To an extent maybe they’re taking advantage of the lack of public sympathy for prisoners. It does seem vindictive."

The Prison Reform Trust also weighed in, urging a ‘sensible and considered approach’, which would include allowing prisoners an ability to smoke outside freely, rather than implement an outright ban.

It is estimated by UK health experts that more than 80 per cent of prisoners smoke, compared with 13 per cent in the general adult population, and while smoking in communal areas has been banned for some time, prisoners are currently allowed to smoke in their cells.

One problem local fire services face at the moment is fires in cells at High Down, which are usually started with 'smoking paraphernalia', according to Surrey Fire and Rescue Banstead.

However the service rejected the idea that a smoking ban would reduce the frequency of such fires, which can happen 'up to three times a week'.

A spokesman said: "These fires are not started inadvertently - nine times out of ten they're lit with lighters and other smoking equipment.

"So as long as prisoners have smoking paraphernalia, for smoking during their outdoors time, we're probably going to continue to be called out to cell fires."

Do you think prisoners should have their cigarettes taken away? Comment below or email ben.weich@london.newsquest.co.uk