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Prison violence on the rise, inspector warns Prisons 'in worst state for a decade', inspector warns
(about 11 hours later)
There has been a substantial increase in violence in jails in England and Wales, the chief prisons inspector is expected to say in his annual report. Prisons in England and Wales are in their worst state for 10 years, with increasing violence, the chief prison's inspector has said in an annual report.
Nick Hardwick is also set to say prisons are failing in their objective to rehabilitate inmates. Nick Hardwick said the use of legal highs had fuelled prison violence, while staff cuts and overcrowding had also had a significant impact.
It is his final report before leaving his post. Some prisons were "places of violence, squalor and idleness", he added.
There were more than 15,000 assaults in men's prisons in England and Wales last year, National Offenders Management Service data shows. Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said he wanted to create "a prison estate that effectively rehabilitates prisoners".
That is the highest annual figure in a decade. Since 2005, prisons have been assessed on levels of safety, respect, purposeful activity among inmates and resettlement.
'Most damning' report The report - Mr Hardwick's last before leaving his post - gave prisons in England and Wales their lowest overall grade since those measurements started being compiled.
Mr Hardwick, who has held the position for five years, is also expected to say there has been a growing number of attacks on prison staff. It suggested the "most alarming" feature was the "accelerating increase in serious assaults", with the number of prison murders also at its highest level since records began.
The Today programme's Sima Kotecha said the last annual report is set to be "his most damning yet". A typical week in the prisons
She said: "Nick Hardwick is expected to make reference to prisons such as Wormwood Scrubs and Nottingham - where inmates have reported feeling unsafe due to high levels of violence. Source: Safety in Custody Statistics from Ministry of Justice quarterly update
"Some of those working in the penal system argue there's a danger that this kind of environment could turn inmates into even more dangerous criminals meaning they would be a bigger threat when they are released." Last year, 239 men and women died in prison - 29% higher than in 2010-11 and a 6% increase from last year - National Offenders Management Service (NOMS) data shows.
The figures suggested self-harm among male prisoners had "risen steadily over the past five years", with the 18,995 incidents recorded last year a third higher than 2010.
Assaults on prison staff also increased to 3,637 in 2014 - an increase of 28% from 2010.
'Squalid cells'
Mr Hardwick said his assessment of prison environments were "consistent" with the NOMS figures.
"More prisoners were murdered, killed themselves, self-harmed and were victims of assaults than five years ago. There were more serious assaults and the number of assaults and serious assaults against staff also rose."
He also criticised the lack of rehabilitation for prisoners, saying: "It is hard to imagine anything less likely to rehabilitate prisoners than days spent mostly lying on their bunks in squalid cells watching daytime TV."
There were not enough resources available to cope with the size of the prison population - which had increased to 87,000 - Mr Hardwick added.
Yet between March 2010 and December 2014 the number of full-time staff in public sector jails had dropped by 29% from 45,080 to 32,100, he said.
"It can't go on like this," said Mr Hardwick. "Prisons can't be immune from the language of priorities."
Mr Hardwick said he had spoken to Justice Secretary Michael Gove about the problems, adding: "The ball is in the Secretary of State's court and he needs to respond to that."
"The safety of our staff as they deliver secure prison regimes is our priority and we are tackling dangerous new psychoactive substances to help drive down the number of assaults and violent incidents.
Prisons minister Mr Selous said: "The safety of our staff as they deliver secure prison regimes is our priority and we are tackling dangerous new psychoactive substances to help drive down the number of assaults and violent incidents.
"Our prisons must punish those who break the law, but they should also be places where offenders can redeem themselves."