Justice Secretary David Gauke has admitted violence and self-harm in prisons are “unacceptably high” after official figures revealed both have surged to record levels.
In the year to September, there were 33,803 assault incidents recorded, an increase of 20% on the previous 12 months.
Of those, nearly 4,000 were recorded as “serious” – those which require medical treatment or result in fractures, burns, or extensive bruising.
Assaults on prison staff also surged to record highs.
According to the Ministry of Justice report, there were 52,814 self-harm incidents, up 23%.
Mr Gauke acknowledged the safety statistics were “disturbing” but believed a change in the way figures are recorded may have contributed to the jump.
He remained “optimistic” that the measures the MOJ has put in place would help to “reduce violence and ultimately better protect the public”.
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, however, warned prisons “have become a danger to officers, inmates and wider society”, claiming cuts to staff and budgets were “directly to blame for violence spiralling out of control”.
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HeadlineJustice Secretary David Gauke admits violence in prisons is ‘unacceptably high’
Short HeadlineJustice Secretary: violence in prisons 'unacceptably high'
StandfirstIn the year to September, there were 33,803 assault incidents recorded, an increase of 20% on the previous 12 months.
Justice Secretary David Gauke has admitted violence and self-harm in prisons are “unacceptably high” after official figures revealed both have surged to record levels.
In the year to September, there were 33,803 assault incidents recorded, an increase of 20% on the previous 12 months.
Of those, nearly 4,000 were recorded as “serious” – those which require medical treatment or result in fractures, burns, or extensive bruising.
Assaults on prison staff also surged to record highs.
According to the Ministry of Justice report, there were 52,814 self-harm incidents, up 23%.
Mr Gauke acknowledged the safety statistics were “disturbing” but believed a change in the way figures are recorded may have contributed to the jump.
He remained “optimistic” that the measures the MOJ has put in place would help to “reduce violence and ultimately better protect the public”.
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, however, warned prisons “have become a danger to officers, inmates and wider society”, claiming cuts to staff and budgets were “directly to blame for violence spiralling out of control”.
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