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| Prison suicides rise to record level in England and Wales | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | She said the government was investing an extra £100m into the prisons estate, as well as hiring 2,500 more officers. |
| Last year thousands of staff walked out in protest over health and safety concerns, amid claims that the system was "in meltdown", while a number of serious disturbances erupted in jails. | |
| The figures show that in the 12 months to September 2016 there were: | The figures show that in the 12 months to September 2016 there were: |
| Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, said its work with inmates' families showed first-hand the traumatic cost deaths in custody inflicted on bereaved family members. | |
| She said the prison estate was a "broken system" that was unable to deal with inmates' problems, such as mental and physical ill health, addictions and poverty. | |
| Ms Coles added: "Inquest after inquest highlights the same systemic failures. | |
| "Countless investigations, prison watchdog reports and reviews recommend solutions to protect the health and safety of staff and prisoners that are systematically ignored". | |
| The number of self-inflicted deaths in 2016 was double the number of 2012. | |
| Meanwhile, 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. | 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." | "As well as the dangers to both physical and mental health, trading in these illicit drugs can lead to debt, violence and intimidation." |
| Ms Truss said she had taken "immediate action" to stabilise the prison estate by tackling the drugs, drones and phones that undermined security. | |
| She added: "These are long-standing issues that will not be resolved in weeks or months but our wholescale reforms will lay the groundwork to transform our prisons, reduce reoffending and make our communities safer." | |
| 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. | 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. |