A recent analysis shows that British prisons face a staggering 74 assaults each day, raising concerns about safety and overcrowding.
London: Last year, British prisons saw an alarming average of 74 assaults every single day. That’s a total of 26,912 assaults, which is a 28% increase from the year before. Can you believe that?
Out of all these incidents, over a third were aimed at prison staff. That’s about 9,204 attacks, which breaks down to around 25 assaults daily on those trying to keep order. It’s pretty shocking.
There were also more than 3,200 serious assaults, with 825 of those targeting staff. These numbers are putting a lot of pressure on the government to do something about the prison crisis.
The analysis, done by the Liberal Democrats, pointed out that Wandsworth prison was the most violent in the UK, with a staggering 1,044 assaults last year. It’s a real mess.
Wandsworth made headlines when a convicted spy, Daniel Khalife, managed to escape, leading to a nationwide manhunt. He was caught four days later, but it raised serious questions about security.
Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, suggested that Wandsworth and other old prisons should be shut down if there’s room to move the inmates elsewhere. His report highlighted major issues with overcrowding and security, with many prisoners sharing cells meant for one.
Berwyn prison came in second for violence, with 783 assaults, while Thameside was third with 667. It’s clear that something needs to change.
Josh Babarinde, the Liberal Democrats’ justice spokesman, slammed the previous Tory government for leaving the prison system in “utter chaos.” He pointed out that the staggering assault numbers and high reoffending rates show a system that’s failing everyone.
He called the situation “unforgivable” and urged the new government to take immediate action. It’s no wonder that many prison officers are leaving when they feel unsafe at work.
Babarinde also asked Sir Keir Starmer to come up with a plan to make prisons safer and to recruit more officers. It’s a tough job, and they need all the help they can get.
Under Labour, thousands of prisoners have been released early to help with overcrowding. This means they can go free after serving just 40% of their sentence, but it doesn’t apply to those convicted of serious crimes.
Unfortunately, there have been some slip-ups, with a few prisoners convicted of harassment being released by mistake.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the new government is dealing with overcrowded prisons that are close to collapse. They’re taking steps to fix the situation and have a long-term plan to prevent it from happening again.
They emphasized that all assaults are taken seriously and that staff have tools like pepper spray and body cameras to help keep them safe. It’s a tough job, and they’re committed to reducing violence in prisons.