Yorkshire's prisons are facing a crisis of violence, with hundreds of assaults recorded against both inmates and staff. The Prison Officers Association has labeled the situation 'totally out of control', attributing it to chronic understaffing and budget cuts. The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged the severity of the crisis, pledging to take immediate and long-term action to address the issue.
Hundreds of inmates and staff are facing violence in Yorkshire 's prisons, with a worker's union describing the escalating situation as 'totally out of control'. Data released by the Ministry of Justice reveals a disturbing trend, showing 2,270 assaults recorded in the year leading up to September. This represents a significant jump from 1,747 the previous year. The figures include 1,533 instances of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and 730 attacks on prison staff.
A single incident can be categorized as both a prisoner-on-prisoner assault and an attack on staff. Nine serious assaults were reported against staff members. A serious assault is classified as a violent incident resulting in significant physical or psychological harm, encompassing concussions, fractures, stabbings, and sexual assault. Adding to the alarming situation is a rise in self-harm incidents, with 5,999 recorded in Yorkshire prisons last year. The data provides a breakdown of assaults in specific prisons: HMP Leeds, HMP Full Sutton, HMP Doncaster, HMP Lindholme, HMP Humber, HMP Moorland, HMP Hull, and HMP Wealstun. This surge in violence within Yorkshire's prisons mirrors a national trend. The entire English prison system witnessed a 14 percent increase in overall assaults last year, with serious assaults rising by 13 percent. A concerning 22 percent surge in serious assaults on staff contributed significantly to this national increase, nearing 1,000 reported cases. Self-harm rates across English prisons are also escalating, climbing by 11 percent in the year leading up to September. Steve Gillan, the general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, stated that the statistics 'speak for themselves' while emphasizing that the increased incidents are 'totally out of control'. Gillan attributes the surge to staff shortages, pointing out that 'high percentages of staff are leaving the job due to the increase in violence and unsafe staffing levels'. He criticized austerity measures, calling them 'vicious budget cuts to a vital service that can only be described as financial vandalism'. Gillan urged the Government to prioritize retaining current prison staff by improving pay and working conditions, and to 'safely' reduce the prison population while simultaneously bolstering the prison workforce. He further asserted that the criminal justice system is 'totally broken', stating that 'it is left to my members to pick up the pieces from failed policies over the last 15 years'. Ellen Green, the deputy CEO at the Prison Advice and Care Trust, classified these figures as 'deeply worrying', highlighting 'the scale of the crisis' the Government inherited upon taking office last year. Green acknowledged that the crisis stems from political decisions spanning decades, stating that prisons have endured years of funding cuts while simultaneously incarcerating more people for longer durations. She expressed the difficulty faced by dedicated prison staff in creating rehabilitative environments when self-harm and violence are rampant. Green acknowledged the Government's efforts to address prison overcrowding, but stressed the continued need for investment to enhance safety within these institutions and provide inmates with opportunities for a fresh start upon release. A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice acknowledged the 'shocking statistics' as evidence of the prison crisis inherited last summer, emphasizing the alarming number of attacks on hardworking staff and the deeply concerning levels of self-harm. They stated that the Government has already taken 'difficult but necessary immediate action to stop our prisons from collapsing' and is implementing long-term measures to increase prison capacity, reduce reoffending, and combat crime.
Prisons Violence Staff Shortages Self-Harm Criminal Justice System Prison Crisis Yorkshire England Ministry Of Justice
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