self-harm and violent attacks have hit record levels in prisons across england and wales for the second time in a year, despite repeated warnings that jails are at crisis point and in desperate need of reform. more than 46,850 self-harm incidents were recorded in the year to march 2018, up by 16 per cent on the previous year, with self-harm now recorded on average 128 times a day. violent incidents meanwhile rose to 31,025, up 16 per cent, and of which 9,003 were assaults on staff – a figure that has soared by more than a quarter 26 per cent in the 12 months to march. it comes after the prison watchdog proclaimed that inmates in england and wales were enduring some of the “most disturbing conditions ever seen” as authorities fail to take action to curb soaring levels of violence and self-harm. peter clarke said “repeated patterns of failure” had led to a point where staff had be inured to conditions that have “no place in an advanced nation in the 21st century”. the data shows that self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance increased by 12 per cent to 3,095, meaning on average nine inmates a day require hospital treatment after harming themselves. women were increasingly more likely to self-harm, with 2,244 incidents recorded per 1,000 female inmates - an increase of 24 per cent - compared with 467 incidents per 1,000 in male establishments, marking a rise of 14 per cent from the previous year. please enter your email address please enter a valid email address please enter a valid email address sign up thanks for signing up to the news newsletter {{#verifyerrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyerrors}} {{^verifyerrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyerrors}} i would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from the independent. read our privacy notice thanks for signing up to the news newsletter {{#verifyerrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyerrors}} {{^verifyerrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyerrors}} i would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from the independent. read our privacy notice the figures show that 310 people died in prison custody in the 12 months to the end of june 2018, including 77 people who lost their lives through suicide. there were 3,926 serious assaults in the year to march, up 9 per cent, and there were five apparent homicides, up from two incidents in the previous year. the 26 per cent rise in assaults on staff will fuel existing concerns over staff retention rates after the independent revealed that the number of prison officers resigning had more than doubled in the last two years. separate figures published by the ministry of justice show that 15 prisons have been given the worst possible score in the department's annual prison performance ratings. the shadow justice secretary said the figures marked a “new low point in this government's mismanagement of our prisons system”. richard burgon continued: “despite all the rhetoric from the government that it is finally getting a grip of the prisons emergency, we now have an assault every 20 minutes in our prisons and the number of prisons labelled as being of ‘serious concern’ is at its highest in years. “the blame for this prisons emergency lies squarely with the conservative's decision to axe thousands of prison officers and slash the prisons budget. “if the government is serious about tackling this crisis then it needs to outline an emergency plan and new funds to make our prisons safe.” andrew neilson, director of campaigns at the howard league for penal reform, meanwhile said: “with incidents of self-injury happening every 11 minutes, with assaults occurring every 17 minutes and with six people dying in prison every week, the government must act boldly and decisively to prevent more bloodshed behind bars. “reducing the number of people in prison would save lives, protect staff and prevent more people being swept into deeper currents of crime, violence and despair.” deborah coles, director of inquest said the only way to improve safety and reduce prison deaths was to dramatically cut the prison population and invest in community alternatives. she highlighted that the number of deaths awaiting classification over the period had more than doubled, with the majority of people found unresponsive in their cells. the undetermined nature of these deaths raises questions as to whether they are drug related or due to undiagnosed or untreated health conditions, she said. findings from inquests continue to expose neglect and inadequate health and mental health care as contributing to avoidable and premature deaths. the criminal justice system cannot deal with societal problems of mental and physical ill heath, drug misuse and poverty.” uk news in pictures show all 50 1 /50 uk news in pictures uk news in pictures 13 april 2021 the core of the milky way becomes visible in the early hours of tuesday morning as it moves over bamburgh lighthouse at stag rock in northumberland pa uk news in pictures 12 april 2021 rebecca richardson left and genevieve florence, members of the aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at clissold leisure centre in north london, which has reopened to the public. many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos pa uk news in pictures 11 april 2021 a pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the fox on the hill pub on denmark hill in london epa uk news in pictures 10 april 2021 the death gun salute is fired by the honourable artillery company to mark the passing of britain's prince philip, duke of edinburgh, at the the tower of london afp via getty uk news in pictures 9 april 2021 a man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside buckingham palace in central london after the announcement of the death of britain's prince philip, duke of edinburgh. - queen elizabeth ii's husband prince philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on april 9, buckingham palace announced. he was 99. afp via getty images uk news in pictures 8 april 2021 cousin pascal ridden by james king clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 pool via reuters uk news in pictures 7 april 2021 deliveroo riders from the independent workers’ union of great britain outside deliveroo headquarters in london, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers’ rights pa uk news in pictures 6 april 2021 waves crash over the walls next to seaham lighthouse in durham pa uk news in pictures 5 april 2021 lusamba katalay third from left, the husband of belly mujinga joins activists at a vigil at victoria station in london to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker belly mujinga who died with covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at london's victoria station pa uk news in pictures 4 april 2021 people spend easter sunday at hengistbury head, bournemouth jake mcpherson/swns uk news in pictures 3 april 2021 a woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'kill the bill' protest in london epa uk news in pictures 2 april 2021 members of the bamburgh croquet club play a game following the easing of covid-19 restrictions in northumberland, britain reuters uk news in pictures 1 april 2021 a family walks in st nicholas' park in warwick, the hot weather which baked much of the uk this week is set to give way to a chilly easter weekend. pa uk news in pictures 31 march 2021 a woman adds a heart to the national covid memorial wall in london epa uk news in pictures 30 march 2021 jamie klingler from reclaim these streets speaks to the media in clapham common, south london, after a review by the chief inspector of constabulary sir thomas winsor concluded that metropolitan police officers “did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner” at the vigil pa uk news in pictures 29 march 2021 an aerial photo shows people playing tennis at the mersey bowman lawn tennis club in liverpool northwest england on march 29, 2021, as england's third covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. - people in england rushed outside monday to enjoy sports, picnics and other previously prohibited activities, as the nation entered the second phase of its coronavirus lockdown easing thanks in large part to a successful vaccination drive afp via getty images uk news in pictures 28 march 2021 a walrus sleeps on the slipway of tenby lifeboat station at tenby, wales reuters uk news in pictures 27 march 2021 demonstrators attend a protest against a new proposed policing bill in manchester reuters uk news in pictures 26 march 2021 gallery technicians display andy warhol screenprints queen elizabeth ii, from: reigning queens screenprint in colours, 1985, left, and queen elizabeth ii, from: reigning queens royal edition screenprint in colours with diamond dust, 1985, right, at christie’s auction rooms in london ap uk news in pictures 25 march 2021 a member of staff, in the pool, cleans the bottom of the pool during pre-opening preparation and cleaning of charlton lido, south london, following its closure due to lockdown pa uk news in pictures 24 march 2021 scottish green party co-leaders patrick harvie and lorna slater on the local election campaign trail in edinburgh. pa uk news in pictures 23 march 2021 care home staff at westbourne house care home in sheffield hold a minute's silence during the national reflection day, the first anniversary of the first uk lockdown tom maddick / swns uk news in pictures 22 march 2021 the sun rises over the couple by artist sean henry, which sits off the coast at newbiggin-by-the-sea in northumberland pa uk news in pictures 21 march 2021 a man driving with his family in jersey captured the moment a meteor streaked across the sky on his car’s dash cam swns uk news in pictures 20 march 2021 police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against the lockdown in london reuters uk news in pictures 19 march 2021 a parakeet eats a cherry blossom in st. james's park, london, britain reuters uk news in pictures 18 march 2021 highland cattle lock horns at the national trust’s wicken fen nature reserve in cambridgeshire pa uk news in pictures 17 march 2021 a cleaner uses a fogging machine to clean a train carriage early in the morning pa uk news in pictures 16 march 2021 a giant 60-metre wide sand portrait of 12-year-old ansha from ethiopia created by wateraid on whitby beach in yorkshire. the image of the young girl, who spends hours each day collecting dirty water from a river, was created to illustrate how climate change threatens water access for world's poorest pa uk news in pictures 15 march 2021 five kayaks, each reflecting the shape of a human bone, form osteoclast i do not know how i came to be on board this ship, this navel of my ark 2021, a sculpture by teresa solar, positioned outside exchange flags, it's one of the outdoor exhibits in the 11th edition of liverpool biennial which opens march 20, 2021, and features a series of outdoor sculpture, sonic and digital commissions by nine different artists. pa photo. picture date: monday march 15, 2021. pa photo. to align with government guidelines, the second 'inside' chapter will launch the full festival of exhibitions and events hosted by key venues throughout the city in late spring pa uk news in pictures 14 march 2021 protesters calling for greater public safety for women after the death of sarah everard, against the police handling of a gathering on clapham common in sarah everard's honour and against a proposed law that would give police more powers to intervene on protests hold up their mobile phones with their torches illuminated in parliament square in central london afp via getty uk news in pictures 13 march 2021 a well-wisher places flowers at a band-stand where a planned vigil in honour of murder victim sarah everard was cancelled after police outlawed it due to covid-19 restrictions, on clapham common, south london afp via getty images uk news in pictures 12 march 2021 angela rayner, deputy leader of the labour party, and jonathan ashworth, shadow health secretary, launch a poster in central london, criticising the government's recommendation of a 1 percent nhs pay proposal, following the party's campaign launch on thursday for the local and mayoral elections in may pa uk news in pictures 11 march 2021 waves crash over the harbour wall in newhaven, southern england afp/getty uk news in pictures 10 march 2021 officers from the metropolitan police search woodland near to great chart golf and leisure in ashford, kent pa uk news in pictures 9 march 2021 a vertical mulcher machine is used to clear trees during the restoration of an ancient bog near kielder water in northumberland. the ancient habitat, known as the border mires, is under threat from encroaching trees which are being removed as part of a 50 year old environmental project to protect the border mires in northumberland pa uk news in pictures 8 march 2021 students take lateral flow tests for coronavirus at the jewellery quarter academy in birmingham in the west midlands, as pupils in england return to school for the first time in two months as part of the first stage of lockdown easing pa uk news in pictures 7 march 2021 nurses and nhs workers from the campaign group nhs workers say no, and unite’s guys and st thomas hospital union branch, hold a socially distanced protest outside downing street in london over the proposed 1% pay rise from the government pa uk news in pictures 6 march 2021 rangers fans outside the stadium after the scottish premiership match at ibrox stadium, glasgow pa uk news in pictures 5 march 2021 people go for a walk at the dream a sculptor in sutton manor, st helens, merseyside, on a clear spring day pa uk news in pictures 4 march 2021 health secretary matt hancock during a visit to the centre for virus research at glasgow university in glasgow pa uk news in pictures 3 march 2021 chancellor of the exchequer, rishi sunak outside 11 downing street, london, before heading to the house of commons to deliver his budget pa uk news in pictures 2 march 2021 a train rounds the coast and heads towards the carbis bay estate hotel and beach, which is set to be the main venue for the upcoming g7 summit getty uk news in pictures 1 march 2021 newborn lambs in a field at a j thompson & sons farm on the romney marsh near lydd in kent on the first day of meteorological spring pa uk news in pictures 28 february 2021 people walking on the beach in scarborough, north yorkshire pa uk news in pictures 27 february 2021 the coffin of captain tom moore is being carried members of the armed forces at bedford crematorium in bedford epa uk news in pictures 26 february 2021 a dog stands on rocks as the sun rises behind it at new brighton beach, wirral pa uk news in pictures 25 february 2021 shadow chancellor anneliese dodds delivers a pre-budget speech to the institute of global prosperity at labour party headquarters in london pa uk news in pictures 24 february 2021 britain's health secretary matt hancock looks on outside downing street in london, britain reuters uk news in pictures 23 february 2021 two surfers make their way into the sea off of boscombe beach in dorset pa responding to the figures, justice secretary david gauke said: “i have been clear that assaults on our hardworking staff will never be tolerated. we will always push for the strongest punishment and are changing the law so that offenders who attack prison officers face even longer behind bars. “the cycle of violence is fuelled by illicit substances, which is why we are employing new tactics and new technology to combat organised crime in our prisons – in turn removing one of the major factors driving assaults and disorder. “we recently announced £30m in prison security, which builds on our investment in body scanners, improved searching techniques and phone-blocking technology. all of this is essential in ensuring prisons are places of rehabilitation, ultimately reducing reoffending and protecting the public.”
deaths rose 650 above average during uk heatwave – with older people most at risk