Zarah ChoudharyData from the Ministry of Justice shows that the number of assaults on prison staff has risen again over the last year.
There were 10,281 assaults on staff in the 12 months to June 2024, a 30% increase from the previous 12 months, and a new peak.
In the latest quarter the number of assaults on staff increased by 2% to 2,655 incidents.
The rate of serious assaults on staff increased by 24% to 974 incidents in the 12 months to June 2024.
Liron Woodcock-Velleman, head of politics at Community, said: “These shocking figures speak for themselves: the epidemic of violence against justice sector workers is not just ongoing but worsening, with a substantial rise in the number of assaults on staff compared to just a year ago.
“No one should have to deal with the risk of violence just for doing their job.
“There is no doubt that the increased risk facing justice workers has been exacerbated by wider problems in the prisons system as a direct result of fourteen years of neglect and underfunding by successive Conservative Governments.
“With a new Government in place, there is now an opportunity to turn the page. We will continue to push ministers for tougher responses to assaults on prison workers, as well as wider action on tackling overcrowding, introducing minimum staffing levels, and ending the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector.”
