• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Soaring levels of self-harm in prisons, new figures show

The Canary by The Canary
30 January 2020
in News, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
170 2
A A
0
Home UK News
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Levels of self-harm behind bars have hit a new record high, with the number of incidents soaring more than 60,000 in a year, official figures show.

According to data released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), there were 61,461 incidents in the 12 months to September, up 16% from the previous period when there were 53,076.

This is the highest number of incidents since records began in 2009 (24,471).

The number of inmates self-harming also hit a record high after a 2% rise to 12,740 from 12,507 in the previous period. When records began in 2009, the number was 6,385.

Strangeways riots 10th anniv
A prison officer patrols the wings of HMP Manchester (Phil Noble/PA)

Separate figures also published on 30 January showed the number of self-harm incidents in youth custody rose by 3% to 1,841 in the year to March, up from 1,779 in the previous period.

The MoJ report on youth custody said: “This is the highest number of self-harm incidents seen in the last five years and the number of injuries as the result of self-harm has continued to increase.”

The news comes as inspectors called for action over worrying numbers of deaths and an increase in incidents of self-harm at HMP Doncaster, a category B jail and young offender institution in South Yorkshire which holds around 1,100 male criminals, of whom a quarter are convicted sex offenders.

As many as six prisoners die behind bars every week, research published earlier this month by campaigners analysing official statistics suggested.

But according to the latest figures, the number of deaths in prison fell by 8% in the 12 months to December, down to 300 from 325 in the previous period.

Of these 84 were self-inflicted, a 9% drop from 92 in the previous period.

The number of assaults has also fallen slightly, down 2% in the year to September to 33,222. This is the first drop in six years.

Attacks on staff remained at similar levels to the previous period, with 10,059 assaults recorded. But this is still a record level compared with the 2,937 incidents recorded in 2010.

Some 1,000 prison officers in England and Wales took time off work last year because of stress, with another 800 experiencing anxiety and depression, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Transgender flag among new emoji approved for 2020

Next Post

Zarah Sultana shows a bunch of Tories what solidarity looks like

Next Post
Zarah Sultana

Zarah Sultana shows a bunch of Tories what solidarity looks like

Grenfell refurbishment firms ‘criminally failed to consider safety’, inquiry into the fire hears

Boris Johnson slammed for 'worrying' move to bypass media scrutiny of Brexit message

Sajid Javid

Sajid Javid delivers a sickening 'gift' to working people right before 'Brexit Eve'

Grenfell Tower Gavin Barwell and the Clarion Logo

The 'Grenfell housing minister' just got a top job in social housing

Please login to join discussion
The DWP office in London
Analysis

The DWP has left unpaid carers in £357 million of debt thank to its own negligence

by Steve Topple
20 May 2025
An HMRC letter ripped open over pension
News

HMRC pensions scandal sees thousands of women owed over £7,000

by Steve Topple
20 May 2025
Is the Growth of the Online Gambling Sector in 2025 Sustainable or a Bubble Ready to Burst?
Sport & Gaming

Is the Growth of the Online Gambling Sector in 2025 Sustainable or a Bubble Ready to Burst?

by Nathan Spears
20 May 2025
Thomas Corker
News

A memorial to a slave trader in Falmouth just got an honest heritage sign

by The Canary
19 May 2025
Trump looking shocked
Analysis

Uproar over Trump’s latest move which could bring about a 2008-style financial crash

by Steve Topple
19 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The DWP office in London
Analysis
Steve Topple

The DWP has left unpaid carers in £357 million of debt thank to its own negligence

An HMRC letter ripped open over pension
News
Steve Topple

HMRC pensions scandal sees thousands of women owed over £7,000

Sport & Gaming
Nathan Spears

Is the Growth of the Online Gambling Sector in 2025 Sustainable or a Bubble Ready to Burst?

Thomas Corker
News
The Canary

A memorial to a slave trader in Falmouth just got an honest heritage sign

ADVERTISEMENT
Sport & Gaming
Nathan Spears

Is the Growth of the Online Gambling Sector in 2025 Sustainable or a Bubble Ready to Burst?

Money
Nathan Spears

How to Build a Smart Private Markets Investment Platform

Business
Nathan Spears

How Working with a Logistics Company Boosts the Efficiency of Businesses