Violence And Self-Harm Hit Record High In Women's Jails

The number of assaults and self-harm incidents in women's prisons in England and Wales has hit a record high, new figures show.

- MAYA OPPENHEIM

Analysis of Ministry of Justice data reveals the number of assaults in the female prison estate has almost tripled between 2010 and 2023 – increasing from 653 to 1,781 incidents. The number of assaults shot up by 32 per cent last year – up from 1,346 incidents in 2022.

Government data also shows the number of sexual assaults in women’s jails – which includes assaults among prisoners and against staff – hit a record high last year, with offences doubling. Some 27 sexual assaults were reported in 2022 but this rose to 54 in 2023, a substantial rise on the 11 incidents documented back in 2010. The rise in violence has occurred alongside a surge in self-harm, with almost 20,000 incidents recorded last year and the numbers almost tripling in a decade.

Pavan Dhaliwal, chief executive of criminal justice charity Revolving Doors, told