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| Prison suicides rise to record level in England and Wales | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A record number of people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016, figures show. | A record number of people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016, figures show. |
| The Ministry of Justice said there were 119 self-inflicted deaths - 29 more than the previous year and the highest number since records began in 1978. | |
| It also reported a record high of 37,784 self-harm incidents and 25,049 assault incidents. | |
| Justice Secretary Liz Truss said the figures were "very serious", but she was dealing with the problem. | |
| She said the government was investing an extra £100m into the prisons estate, as well as hiring 2,500 more officers. | |
| The figures show that in the 12 months to September 2016 there were: | |
| The MoJ said the rise in assaults had coincided with major changes to the prison regime, operating arrangements and culture in prisons over the last five years. | |
| It added: "For example, restructuring of the prison estate including staff reductions, which have reduced overall running costs, and an increasing awareness of gang culture and illicit psychoactive drugs in prisons. | |
| "As well as the dangers to both physical and mental health, trading in these illicit drugs can lead to debt, violence and intimidation." | |
| The new figures follow calls from prison governors in October for an independent public inquiry into the increase in violence and suicides in jails in England and Wales. |