Prisons released 71 inmates in error over the last year in England and Wales as violence surges to new high
7 years, 8 months ago

Prisons released 71 inmates in error over the last year in England and Wales as violence surges to new high

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Government has been accused of “turning prisons into powder kegs” with underfunding, overcrowding and staff shortages as new figures reveal record levels of violence. Another 15 prisoners escaped from custody – four from prisons, eight from “contractor escort”, and three from National Offender Management Service escort, but none involving the most dangerous category of prisoner. “By taking bold but sensible steps to reduce the prison population, we can save lives and prevent more people being swept away into deeper currents of crime and despair.” Almost a quarter of prisoners were being held in conditions officially classified as “crowded” and the number of positive random drug tests reached 9.3 per cent. Last week, Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said staffing levels in many establishments are too low to maintain order and described the conditions some inmates are held in as “squalid, dirty and disgraceful”.

Prisoners High Number Staff Prisons Released  england  71  surges  selfharm  reform  high  number  error  staff  prisoners  prison  inmates  violence  showed  wales  prisons  released

History of this topic

Only around one in 200 criminals are sent to prison, new figures reveal - and some with 50 convictions have been spared prison 50,000 times since 2017
1 week, 5 days ago

Only around one in 200 criminals are sent to prison, new figures reveal - and some with 50 convictions have been spared prison 50,000 times since 2017

Daily Mail  

Only around one in 200 criminals are jailed, new figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal, with offenders with as many as 50 convictions being spared life behind bars. Only around one in 200 criminals are jailed, new figures from the Ministry of Justice reveal. Lawrence Newport, an academic who previously led a successful campaign to ban XL Bully dogs, …

Do not go directly to jail: Hardened criminals are 'laughing at the law' after being handed short sentences or slaps on wrist amid Labour moves to slash the use of prisons
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Do not go directly to jail: Hardened criminals are 'laughing at the law' after being handed short sentences or slaps on wrist amid Labour moves to slash the use of prisons

Daily Mail  

Labour's obsession with slashing the use of prison will lead to more persistent criminals getting away with soft punishments, it was warned last night. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said prolific crooks are 'laughing at the Government's naivety' and 'popping champagne corks' at the prospect of light sentences. Writing exclusively for the Daily Mail, Mr Jenrick said Justice Secretary Shabana …

Prison staffing crisis laid bare as complaints about officer behaviour surge to worst levels in at least a decade
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Prison staffing crisis laid bare as complaints about officer behaviour surge to worst levels in at least a decade

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And figures obtained by this publication show a particular surge in complaints about staff …

Prisons in crisis as 74 attacks take place every day behind bars
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Prisons in crisis as 74 attacks take place every day behind bars

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Seventy-four assaults take place every day in jails across England and …

Over 70 assaults taking place in jails each day as prison violence increases by 28 per cent from previous year
3 months ago

Over 70 assaults taking place in jails each day as prison violence increases by 28 per cent from previous year

Daily Mail  

More than 70 assaults took place in jails every day last year, analysis shows. The rate of serious assaults on staff fell from 12 per 1,000 inmates in 2018 to 10 per 1,000 last year. More than 70 assaults took place in jails across the UK every day last year, a 28 per cent increase from the previous year. HMP …

Prison population in England and Wales projected to top 100,000 by 2029
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Prison population in England and Wales projected to top 100,000 by 2029

Hindustan Times  

More than 100,000 prisoners could be held in jails in England and Wales within five years, according to government estimates. It comes after Whitehall’s spending watchdog warned earlier this week that Government plans to boost prison capacity could fall short by thousands of cell spaces within two years and cost the taxpayer billions of pounds more than anticipated. The latest …

Assaults on prison officers at record high as inmates' reoffending rates increase - with number of recalled offenders on the run surging
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Assaults on prison officers at record high as inmates' reoffending rates increase - with number of recalled offenders on the run surging

Daily Mail  

Assaults on prison officers have reached a new high and reoffending rates have increased, figures showed yesterday. The MoJ said there were a record 10,281 assaults on jail staff, up 30 per cent on the previous 12 months. Reoffending rates – the proportion of convicted criminals who go on to commit new crimes – were up one per cent to …

More prisoners to leave jail early in next phase of bid to free up cell space
5 months, 1 week ago

More prisoners to leave jail early in next phase of bid to free up cell space

The Independent  

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Another 1,100 prisoners will be freed next week under Labour's early release scheme - after offenders started committing crime within hours when last batch were allowed out
5 months, 1 week ago

Another 1,100 prisoners will be freed next week under Labour's early release scheme - after offenders started committing crime within hours when last batch were allowed out

Daily Mail  

Another 1,100 prisoners are due to be freed at the start of next week under Labour's controversial early release scheme. An inmate leaving HMP Liverpool on September 10 under the scheme People spray a man with sparkling wine after he walked out of HMP Nottingham on September 10 This is the moment police immediately re-arrested a man at the prison …

Britain faced ‘total breakdown of law and order’ without early release of prisoners, minister claims
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Britain faced ‘total breakdown of law and order’ without early release of prisoners, minister claims

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain faced a “total breakdown …

Prisons prepare to lay on coaches to move hundreds of inmates out of jails in controversial early release scheme
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Prisons prepare to lay on coaches to move hundreds of inmates out of jails in controversial early release scheme

Daily Mail  

Prisons are preparing to lay on coaches to move hundreds of inmates out of jails as part of an early release scheme. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood during a visit to HMP Bedford in Harpur, Bedfordshire, as she announces plans to address prison overcrowding A prison guard walks past HMP Wandsworth prison on July 12, 2024. The Eastern European country has …

Number of prisoners in England and Wales hits record high as more rioters jailed
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Number of prisoners in England and Wales hits record high as more rioters jailed

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of people in prison in England and Wales …

Overcrowding, drug misuse and violence: A journey through the prison system in numbers
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Overcrowding, drug misuse and violence: A journey through the prison system in numbers

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Children and Young People Secure Estates Violence There were 510 incidents of assault in …

Are our jails out of control? House of Commons passes controversial Labour plans to start letting thousands of inmates out early to ease overcrowding despite record number of weapons and drugs being s
8 months ago

Are our jails out of control? House of Commons passes controversial Labour plans to start letting thousands of inmates out early to ease overcrowding despite record number of weapons and drugs being s

Daily Mail  

Controversial plans to release thousands of prisoners early were approved in the Commons yesterday as figures showed a record number of weapons, drugs and other illicit items were smuggled into jails last year. MPs signed off the Government’s early release measure, designed to ease the prisons overcrowding crisis, despite concerns it could become permanent and lead to a ‘softer’ approach …

Violence, self-harm and widespread drug use: Figures lay bare the crisis facing Britain’s prisons
8 months ago

Violence, self-harm and widespread drug use: Figures lay bare the crisis facing Britain’s prisons

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood claimed the government had ‘no option’ but …

In numbers: violence and self harm in prison laid bare in damming new figures
8 months ago

In numbers: violence and self harm in prison laid bare in damming new figures

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The number of prison assaults have increased by nearly 30 per cent in the …

Three in five prisons are now overcrowded, analysis shows as Labour vows to release convicts even earlier to free up space amid warnings jail population could soar by another 20,000 in five years
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Three in five prisons are now overcrowded, analysis shows as Labour vows to release convicts even earlier to free up space amid warnings jail population could soar by another 20,000 in five years

Daily Mail  

More than three in five prisons are overcrowded, MailOnline analysis shows. Some facilities have been stretched beyond their limits for over a decade, including scandal-hit HMP Wandsworth, the scene of an escape by terror suspect Daniel Khalife last year, as well as a prison guard being caught on video having sex with an inmate last month. Current figures show that …

List of prison deaths to be published in move ‘from secrecy to openness’
1 year, 1 month ago

List of prison deaths to be published in move ‘from secrecy to openness’

The Independent  

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Youth prisons ‘more violent than adult male jails’ as number of assaults soar
1 year, 4 months ago

Youth prisons ‘more violent than adult male jails’ as number of assaults soar

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Youth detention centres have seen a 30 per cent increase in assaults in the …

Prison sentences under a year to be scrapped for most criminals
1 year, 5 months ago

Prison sentences under a year to be scrapped for most criminals

The Telegraph  

Prison sentences of less than a year will be scrapped for most criminals under government plans to tackle the prison overcrowding crisis. Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, announced on Monday there will be a new legal presumption that offenders facing jail sentences of under 12 months will instead be “punished” in the community by doing unpaid work such as “cleaning …

Just 557 prison spaces left as jailed population hits new all-time high
1 year, 5 months ago

Just 557 prison spaces left as jailed population hits new all-time high

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. There are just 557 spaces left across the entire prison …

Revealed: Britain's most overcrowded prisons as judges are told to spare convicted rapists and burglars jail because there is not enough room
1 year, 5 months ago

Revealed: Britain's most overcrowded prisons as judges are told to spare convicted rapists and burglars jail because there is not enough room

Daily Mail  

Britain's prisons are bursting at the seams, with some holding nearly double the number of inmates they were originally designed for. The average annual prison population has quadrupled between 1900 and 2023, going from just over 17,400 to around 83,100 - according to official data. Leading criminal barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind wrote on Twitter, it was dismal, while shadow Home Secretary …

Criminals in the UK may be freed early to ease overcrowding as prison crisis laid bare
1 year, 5 months ago

Criminals in the UK may be freed early to ease overcrowding as prison crisis laid bare

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Talk of the drastic measure comes as: Latest figures show …

England and Wales spend more on prisons than all of Europe except Russia
3 years, 11 months ago

England and Wales spend more on prisons than all of Europe except Russia

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Spending on prisons in England and Wales is higher than …

Prisoner suicides surge by 23%, official figures reveal
5 years, 5 months ago

Prisoner suicides surge by 23%, official figures reveal

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Prisoner suicides have surged by 23 per cent across England …

Decline in prison safety standards and lack of staffing ‘seriously hampering’ inmate rehabilitation, report finds
5 years, 9 months ago

Decline in prison safety standards and lack of staffing ‘seriously hampering’ inmate rehabilitation, report finds

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The chair of the Independent Monitoring Boards, which inspect prisons across England and Wales, …

Exodus of experienced prison staff ‘putting public at risk’ as 80,000 years of experience lost since 2010
5 years, 9 months ago

Exodus of experienced prison staff ‘putting public at risk’ as 80,000 years of experience lost since 2010

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An exodus of experienced staff driven by Britain’s prison crisis …

Self-harm and violent assaults in prisons hit record high for seventh year in a row
5 years, 11 months ago

Self-harm and violent assaults in prisons hit record high for seventh year in a row

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Self-harm and violent assaults in prisons have hit a record …

Prison violence soars to record levels despite £70m drive to tackle assaults, new figures reveal
6 years, 1 month ago

Prison violence soars to record levels despite £70m drive to tackle assaults, new figures reveal

The Telegraph  

Violence in prisons has soared to record levels despite a Government £70m drive to combat assaults and drug abuse, according to Ministry of Justice figures. In the latest quarter the number of assaults on staff also increased, by 12%, to a new record high of 2,820 incidents. Self-harm by inmates hit a new peak with almost 53,000 incidents, a 23% …

Prison conditions ‘most disturbing ever seen’ with staff now accustomed to jails not fit for 21st century, watchdog says
6 years, 6 months ago

Prison conditions ‘most disturbing ever seen’ with staff now accustomed to jails not fit for 21st century, watchdog says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Politicians and campaigners warned that the prison system had reached the point of “emergency” …

Prisoner violence at record levels, cell 'double ups' a major contributor, commissioner admits
6 years, 7 months ago

Prisoner violence at record levels, cell 'double ups' a major contributor, commissioner admits

ABC  

Violence in the Queensland prison system has reached a new high, with almost 3,000 jailhouse assaults recorded last financial year. Key points: Queensland prison overcrowding flagged as the biggest operational issue Attacks inside prisons have been steadily on the rise since 2013/14 All the state's high security prisons are over capacity Video obtained by the ABC reveals the ferocity of …

Self-harm and violent attacks hit record high in prisons across England and Wales for second time in a year
6 years, 8 months ago

Self-harm and violent attacks hit record high in prisons across England and Wales for second time in a year

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Self-harm and violent attacks have hit record levels in prisons …

Number of far-right terrorists in UK prisons triples as arrests hit new record
6 years, 9 months ago

Number of far-right terrorists in UK prisons triples as arrests hit new record

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The proportion of prisoners holding …

Self-harm and violent attacks hit record high in prisons across England and Wales
6 years, 11 months ago

Self-harm and violent attacks hit record high in prisons across England and Wales

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Self-harm and violent attacks have hit record levels in prisons …

Britain's prison crisis caused by 'poor political decisions' by Conservatives and huge cuts, former head of jails says
6 years, 11 months ago

Britain's prison crisis caused by 'poor political decisions' by Conservatives and huge cuts, former head of jails says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy “Poor political decisions” by the Conservatives and huge budget cuts …

Violence and self-injury in prisons hit highest levels on record, figures show
7 years, 2 months ago

Violence and self-injury in prisons hit highest levels on record, figures show

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Official data published by the Ministry of Justice show 28,165 assaults were recorded in …

NSW prison numbers grow 15pc in two years to reach record high, amid overcrowding concerns
8 years, 1 month ago

NSW prison numbers grow 15pc in two years to reach record high, amid overcrowding concerns

ABC  

The New South Wales prison population reached record highs in December last year, according to quarterly figures released today. "We always get a peak in prisoners after Christmas because the courts shut down and people spend longer on remand, so that's one of the short-term causes of it," Dr Weatherburn said. "The assault rates in prisons, that remained very stable …

Record number of prison inmates killed themselves in England and Wales in 2016
8 years, 2 months ago

Record number of prison inmates killed themselves in England and Wales in 2016

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A report setting out the figures said: “The rise in assaults since 2012 has …

Prison deaths in England and Wales soar by 21 per cent to record high amid ‘bloodbath of assaults’
8 years, 5 months ago

Prison deaths in England and Wales soar by 21 per cent to record high amid ‘bloodbath of assaults’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I called for a radical review of their leadership, operational capacity and resourcing at …

UK prison system 'in total meltdown' as sexual assaults and violent crimes soar in jails
8 years, 8 months ago

UK prison system 'in total meltdown' as sexual assaults and violent crimes soar in jails

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An alarming rise in the number of murders, sexual assaults …

Prisoner violence is a warning to Government – our prisons are overcrowded and underfunded
8 years, 10 months ago

Prisoner violence is a warning to Government – our prisons are overcrowded and underfunded

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. As The Independent reveals today, since …

NSW prisons overcrowded, courts under pressure: report
9 years, 4 months ago

NSW prisons overcrowded, courts under pressure: report

ABC  

The New South Wales prison system is overcrowded and the State Government needs to implement better future planning, an auditor-general's report has found. "Overcrowding of correctional centres can negatively impact all aspects of custodial life, and could ultimately result in higher re-offending rates," the report said. NSW Government needs better forward planning: report The auditor-general's report also suggested the NSW …

Safety and stability boosted in prison system
10 years, 7 months ago

Safety and stability boosted in prison system

China Daily  

No prison escapes or deaths have been reported at China's jails since last year despite an increase of inmates convicted of violent crimes, the Ministry of Justice reports. “Faced with complex situations, we have taken effective measures to strengthen the standardization of management to ensure safety in the prison system,” said a ministry official who wished to go unnamed. The …

Austerity cuts blamed for prisons ‘crisis’
10 years, 10 months ago

Austerity cuts blamed for prisons ‘crisis’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In just two weeks the jail population has leapt by 500 in England and Wales …

Crime is at lowest level in 25 years, but we now have a record number of serious reoffenders and people in prison
12 years, 5 months ago

Crime is at lowest level in 25 years, but we now have a record number of serious reoffenders and people in prison

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Rehabilitating means supporting them the whole …

The Big Question: How can we end the crisis in Britain's overcrowded prisons?
15 years, 5 months ago

The Big Question: How can we end the crisis in Britain's overcrowded prisons?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Paul Tidball, the Prison Governors' Association president, warned ministers …

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