Safety In Custody Statistics October 2017

EDM number 475 in 2017-19, proposed by Liz Saville Roberts on 30/10/2017.
Categorised under the topics of Crimes of violence, Mental health and Prisons.

That this House is concerned by the recently published Safety in Custody statistics which indicate a continuing rise in incidents of self-harm, assaults and violence across the prison estate in England and Wales; notes that self-harm incidents reached a record high in June 2017 with 41,103 recorded, up 12 per cent from the previous year and a 10 per cent rise in the latest quarter; further notes that assaults and serious assaults have continued to rise reaching record levels with 27,193 incidents recorded up 14 per cent from the previous year; is further concerned that assaults on staff have increased by 25 per cent from the previous year with 7,437 incidents recorded and serious assaults on staff up 14 per cent on the previous year; is also concerned that prisoner on prisoner assaults have risen by 10 per cent over the past year with 19,678 incidents recorded and serious assaults up 18 per cent since 2016; understands that death in custody figures have dropped slightly yet remain too high with 300 recorded in the past 12 months; further notes the increase in the prison population to over 86,000 in recent months leading to a further strain on the service; and calls on the Government to act urgently to address the continuing deterioration of safety across the prison estate and to meet with front-line staff and inmates to coordinate a safe and stable workplace and living situation for all.

This motion has been signed by a total of 20 MPs.