Assaults within prisons in England and Wales have reached alarming levels, with a staggering average of 74 attacks per day recorded in 2023.
According to new figures from the House of Commons library, the 26,912 incidents last year included 3,200 serious assaults, amounting to roughly eight per day.
The data, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, paints a concerning picture of increasing violence behind bars, with more than a third of assaults on prison officers remaining inadequately investigated.
Of the assaults recorded, 25 were inflicted on staff daily, making the safety of those working in prisons a key concern.
The figures also highlight some of the most violent facilities in the country, with HMP Wandsworth, located in southwest London, seeing the highest number of assaults.
The prison recorded 1,044 incidents, more than half of which involved staff. HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales, followed with 783 assaults, and Thameside in southeast London reported 667.
The rise in prison violence marks a 28% increase from 2022 and comes amid ongoing issues with overcrowding and deteriorating conditions in UK prisons.
The research sheds light on the mounting pressures faced by the prison system, with the number of assaults spiking as the conditions within prisons continue to worsen.
This violent trend has led to calls for immediate reform from the Liberal Democrats, with justice spokesperson Josh Babarinde urging the government to take swift action to improve prison safety.
“The government must recruit and retain more prison officers, tackle the criminal court backlog, and invest in rehabilitation programs to reduce reoffending,” Babarinde said, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the crisis.
“The Conservatives have left our prisons in utter chaos, failing staff, victims, and communities.” The figures come at a time when the UK government is grappling with the fallout of overcrowded prisons.
In response, the Ministry of Justice has assured that addressing the crisis remains a top priority, citing the use of safety measures such as Pava synthetic pepper spray and body-worn cameras for staff.
“We are taking immediate action to address this crisis, and we have a long-term plan to ensure we are never in this position again,” a spokesperson stated, underscoring the government’s commitment to reducing violence in prisons.
David Gauke, former Conservative justice secretary, recently suggested that the UK could be making better use of open prisons as part of a broader review of the country’s sentencing system.
Gauke, who is leading a government review on sentencing, pointed to reforms in Spain, where open prisons have been used more effectively to provide prisoners with greater opportunities for rehabilitation.
“There is an opportunity for things to change,” Gauke said, acknowledging that the UK prison system’s capacity is nearing its limit.
The ongoing crisis in UK prisons has led to a growing consensus that long-term solutions are needed to address overcrowding, improve staff safety, and ensure better rehabilitation programs for prisoners.
The government’s ability to navigate this complex challenge will have significant implications for the future of the UK’s justice system.
