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Prisoner self-harm in England and Wales reaches record high with 41,103 incidents in year Prisoner self-harm in England and Wales reaches record high with 41,103 incidents in year
(35 minutes later)
Self-harm in prisons in England and Wales have reached a record high of more than 41,000 incidents in a year. Self-harm in prisons in England and Wales has reached a record high of more than 41,000 incidents in a year.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice also showed that the number of assaults increased to a new high of almost 27,200 incidents in the year to June 2017, including a record 7,437 attacks on staff.  “Safety in custody” statistics released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) painted a grim picture of British jails, showing more attacks on both prisoners and staff than ever before.
  The number of assaults hit another record of 27,193 incidents, including 3,687 deemed “serious” in the 12 months to June, up 14 per cent from the previous year. 
  There were 19,678 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and 7,437 assaults on staff.
More follows… The number of prisoners who died in custody has slightly fallen from 324 to 300 in the past year, with 77 described as “self-inflicted” by the MoJ – including five women – and three murders.
  Self-harm has risen by 12 per cent and around 2,800 incidents left people needing hospital treatment. 
The statistics came months after the Government was accused of “turning prisons into powder kegs” with underfunding, overcrowding and staff shortages.
David Lidington, the Justice Secretary, said £100m was being invested to increase frontline staff and put more officers on wings, with 1,290 extra prison officers recruited over the past year – half the Government’s target.
Another £2m is being spent on body-worn cameras that hope to be work as a “visible deterrent” against violence and help prosecutions, and new handcuffs are being introduced alongside a type of pepper spray. 
“Our prison staff work incredibly hard and I am under no illusions about the challenges they face,” Mr Lidington said.
“Violence against our dedicated staff will never be tolerated which is why I am supporting a Bill to increase sentences for those who attack emergency workers, including prison officers. 
“I have been clear that it will take time, but I am determined to tackle the issues that undermine prison safety.”