Public protection

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Prison population

Total number of prisoners at a specific point in time each year.

Chart
Table

Period	Prison population
30-Jun-2002	71,218
30-Jun-2003	73,657
30-Jun-2004	74,488
30-Jun-2005	76,190
30-Jun-2006	77,982
30-Jun-2007	79,734
30-Jun-2008	83,194
30-Jun-2009	83,391
30-Jun-2010	85,002
30-Jun-2011	85,374
30-Jun-2012	86,048
30-Jun-2013	83,842
30-Jun-2014	85,509
30-Jun-2015	86,193
30-Jun-2016	85,134
30-Jun-2017	85,863
30-Jun-2018	82,773
30-Jun-2019	82,710
30-Jun-2020	79,514
30-Jun-2021	78,324
30-Jun-2022	80,659

30-Jun-2022

80,659

31-Mar-2023

The prison population at 31 Mar 2023 was 84,372.

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Prison population by sex

Values:

Male: 81,057 prisoners
Female: 3,315 prisoners

Data source: Offender management statistics quarterly

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

31 Mar 2023

Prison population by age	Count
15-17	335 prisoners
18-20	3,229 prisoners
21-24	8,235 prisoners
25-29	13,387 prisoners
30-39	27,830 prisoners
40-49	16,778 prisoners
50-59	8,878 prisoners
60-69	3,824 prisoners
70 and over	1,876 prisoners

31 Mar 2023 total

84,372 prisoners

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Prison population by offence

Prison population under an immediate custodial sentence by offence group. Excludes remand and non-criminal prisoners.

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Table

Prison population by offence	Count
Violence against the person	21,582
Sexual offences	13,493
Robbery	6,048
Theft Offences	6,620
Criminal damage and arson	1,075
Drug offences	11,512
Possession of weapons	2,506
Public order offences	1,450
Miscellaneous crimes against society	2,396
Fraud Offences	605
Summary Non-Motoring	1,285
Summary motoring	283
Offence not recorded	240

31 Mar 2023 total

69,095

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Prison releases (quarterly)

A release is defined as a release from prison where the prisoner has finished serving the custodial term of their sentence(s) and excludes:

civil non-criminal prisoners;
persons committed to custody for non-payment of a fine;
releases to hospital;
deported prisoners from HMPPS operated Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs); and
releases following recall after release on licence, except occasions:
- where the offender has committed a new offence and is committed to custody for a new sentence and the subsequent release date falls after the sentence expiry date of the original sentence; or
- where upon release the offender is subject to the licence condition of the new custodial sentence.

Chart
Table

Period	Prison releases (quarterly)
Jan-Mar 2015	17,797
Apr-Jun 2015	18,526
Jul-Sep 2015	18,880
Oct-Dec 2015	19,348
Jan-Mar 2016	17,923
Apr-Jun 2016	18,562
Jul-Sep 2016	18,714
Oct-Dec 2016	18,361
Jan-Mar 2017	17,639
Apr-Jun 2017	17,763
Jul-Sep 2017	17,897
Oct-Dec 2017	18,196
Jan-Mar 2018	17,904
Apr-Jun 2018	17,369
Jul-Sep 2018	17,136
Oct-Dec 2018	17,215
Jan-Mar 2019	15,432
Apr-Jun 2019	15,708
Jul-Sep 2019	15,699
Oct-Dec 2019	15,931
Jan-Mar 2020	14,721
Apr-Jun 2020	13,290
Jul-Sep 2020	12,526
Oct-Dec 2020	12,716
Jan-Mar 2021	11,419
Apr-Jun 2021	11,623
Jul-Sep 2021	11,750
Oct - Dec 2021	12,112
Jan - Mar 2022	11,198
Apr - Jun 2022	11,359
Jul - Sep 2022	11,545
Oct - Dec 2022	11,467

Oct - Dec 2022

11,467

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Individuals released on temporary licence

Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) is the mechanism under which offenders may be released into the community, generally towards the end of their sentences, for rehabilitative purposes. It can play an important role in public protection by allowing risk management plans for offenders to be tested in the community under strict conditions before they are released. It also provides a valuable means of helping offenders prepare for their resettlement in the community by, for example, finding work or rebuilding links with their families, which helps to reduce reoffending.

These figures show the number of individuals released on temporary licence at least once in the quarter. Some individuals may be released multiple times within the quarter or over multiple quarters. Therefore, it is not possible to sum multiple quarters together to find the number of releases on temporary licence over a longer period.

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Table

Period	Individuals released on temporary licence
Apr-Jun 2015	3,668
Jul-Sep 2015	3,521
Oct-Dec 2015	3,514
Jan-Mar 2016	3,546
Apr-Jun 2016	3,685
Jul-Sep 2016	3,879
Oct-Dec 2016	3,985
Jan-Mar 2017	4,019
Apr-Jun 2017	4,023
Jul-Sep 2017	4,044
Oct-Dec 2017	4,127
Jan-Mar 2018	4,098
Apr-Jun 2018	4,185
Jul-Sep 2018	4,323
Oct-Dec 2018	4,283
Jan-Mar 2019	4,284
Apr-Jun 2019	4,534
Jul-Sep 2019	5,134
Oct-Dec 2019	5,280
Jan-Mar 2020	4,957
Apr-Jun 2020	794
Jul-Sep 2020	1,617
Oct-Dec 2020	2,189
Jan-Mar 2021	1,067
Apr-Jun 2021	3,026
Jul-Sep 2021	3,712
Oct-Dec 2021	4,082
Jan-Mar 2022	3,984
Apr-Jun 2022	4,127
Jul-Sep 2022	4,257
Oct-Dec 2022	4,255

Oct-Dec 2022

4,255

Data source

Prison population statistics (monthly)

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Prison type - male / female

Prisons count by male, female and children (under 18 years old) establishments.

Values:

Male: 106 prisons
Female: 12 prisons
Under 18: 4 prisons

Data source: Prisons and their resettlement providers

Published: 31 August 2022.

August 2022

Prison type - public / private

Prisons count by ownership.

Values:

Public sector: 107 prisons
Private sector (contracted): 15 prisons

Data source: Prisons and their resettlement providers

Published: 31 August 2022.

August 2022

Prison operational capacity

The operational capacity of a prison is the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime.

This measure reports the useable operational capacity of the estate, which is the sum of all establishments' operational capacity less an operating margin. Figures are taken on the last working Friday of June each year.

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Table

Period	Prison operational capacity
Jun 2011	87,902
Jun 2012	90,106
Jun 2013	87,822
Jun 2014	86,489
Jun 2015	87,968
Jun 2016	87,170
Jun 2017	86,849
Jun 2018	86,491
Jun 2019	85,056
Jun 2020	81,749
Jun 2021	81,154
Jun 2022	82,759

Jun 2022

82,759

30-Sep-2022

At 30 Sep 2022 the useable operational capacity of the estate was 83,723.

Data source

Published: 28 October 2022.

Prison staff in post (bands 3-5)

The chart shows Band 3-5 prison officer staff (full time equivalent) at the end of each financial year.

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Table

Period	Prison staff in post (bands 3-5)
March 2010	24,830
March 2011	24,369
March 2012	22,735
March 2013	21,506
March 2014	18,251
March 2015	18,222
March 2016	18,327
March 2017	18,403
March 2018	21,038
March 2019	22,630
March 2020	21,928
March 2021	21,926
March 2022	22,001
March 2023	22,288

March 2023

22,288

Data source

HM Prison and Probation Service workforce quarterly

Published: 22 May 2023. Next publication: 17 August 2023 9:30am.

Safety and security

Crowding

Percentage of prisoners held in crowded accommodation.

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Table

Period	Crowding
Apr 1998 to Mar 1999	20.0 %
Apr 1999 to Mar 1900	20.1 %
Apr 2000 to Mar 2001	18.2 %
Apr 2001 to Mar 2002	19.3 %
Apr 2002 to Mar 2003	23.3 %
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004	24.9 %
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005	24.4 %
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006	24.0 %
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007	24.6 %
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	25.3 %
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	25.3 %
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	24.6 %
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	24.2 %
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	25.1 %
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	23.9 %
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	24.1 %
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	25.5 %
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	24.5 %
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	24.5 %
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	24.2 %
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	22.5 %
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	22.5 %
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	20.2 %
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	20.6 %

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

20.6 %

Data source

Published: 28 July 2022.

Prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners

Assaults in prison custody cover a wide range of violent incidents including fights between prisoners.

From time to time, events in prison custody and developments within and outside the Ministry of Justice have changed the safety in prisons is viewed and managed. Some have resulted in changes to the way offenders are managed, others have affected the way statistics are collected and reported.

Chart
Table

Period	Prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004	123
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005	131
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006	146
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007	144
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	154
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	153
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	142
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	134
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	134
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	135
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	147
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	181
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	224
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	248
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	281
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	261
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	163
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	159
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	174

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

174

Dec-2022

In the 12 months to Dec 2022 there were 174 prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners.

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners

Assaults in prison custody cover a wide range of violent incidents including attacks on staff.

From time to time, events in prison custody and developments within and outside Ministry of Justice have changed the way safety in prisons is viewed and managed. Some have resulted in changes to the way offenders are managed, others have affected the way statistics are collected and reported.

Chart
Table

Period	Assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004	38
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005	42
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006	45
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007	43
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	40
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	39
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	36
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	34
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	34
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	39
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	43
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	58
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	80
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	98
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	118
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	112
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	94
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	97
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	90

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

Dec-2022

In the 12 months to Dec 2022 there were 90 assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners.

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners

Self-harm in prison covers a wide range of severity and type of incident, including cutting, overdose or hanging.

Chart
Table

Period	Self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	278
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	312
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	297
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	310
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	267
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	276
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	303
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	377
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	471
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	521
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	668
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	762
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	688
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	685
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	687

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

687

Dec-2022

In the 12 months to Dec 2022 there were 687 self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners.

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Self inflicted deaths

The number of self inflicted deaths in prisons.

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Table

Period	Self inflicted deaths
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	54
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	67
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	52
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	90
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	79
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	103
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	116
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	74
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	88
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	83
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	80
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	79
Apr 2022 to Mar 2023	82

Apr 2022 to Mar 2023

Mar-2023

In the 12 months to Mar 2023 there were 82 self-inflicted deaths.

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

Random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)

The percentage of random mandatory drug tests which show drugs to be present, hence a downward trend is positive. This measure excludes tests for new psychoactive substances.

The values for 2018/19 onwards are calculated using a new weighted methodology - please refer to the relevant publication for more details.

Chart
Table

Period	Random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)
Apr 1998 to Mar 1999	18.1 %
Apr 1999 to Mar 2000	14.4 %
Apr 2000 to Mar 2001	12.0 %
Apr 2001 to Mar 2002	11.4 %
Apr 2002 to Mar 2003	11.4 %
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004	12.3 %
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005	11.8 %
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006	10.3 %
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007	8.8 %
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	9.1 %
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	7.7 %
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	7.8 %
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	7.1 %
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	7.0 %
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	7.2 %
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	7.5 %
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	7.0 %
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	7.8 %
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	9.3 %
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	10.9 %
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	10.4 %
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	10.5 %

Apr 2019 to Mar 2020

10.5 %

Data source

Published: 28 July 2022.

Barricades or prevention of access

The number of incidents where where one or more offenders deny access to all or part of a prison to those lawfully empowered to have such access, by use of a physical barrier.

Chart
Table

Period	Barricades or prevention of access
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	521
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	524
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	446
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	430
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	554
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	475
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	669
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	929
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	1,229
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	1,320
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	1,406
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	1,737
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	1,882
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	1,217
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	1,273

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

1,273

Data source

Published: 28 July 2022.

Risk management audit

An announced audit to determine how effectively the prison is assessing and managing risks of violence and self-harm.

The risk management audit is carried out approximately every three years. The data presented here shows the most recent assessment for each prison establishment.

The summary percentage is based on audits published internally by HMPPS. The annual prison performance ratings publication includes audits which had not been published when it was released and were therefore suppressed from the data tables. Including these suppressed scores, the overall percentage of prisons scoring a 3 or 4 is 53.3%

Values:

Rating 1: 1 prisons
Rating 2: 35 prisons
Rating 3: 36 prisons
Rating 4: 5 prisons

Data source: Prison performance ratings (annual)

Published: 28 July 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

2021-22

Escapes from prison establishments and HMPPS escort

A prisoner escapes from prison if they unlawfully gain their liberty (for 15 minutes or more) by breaching the secure perimeter of a closed prison, or if during prison staff escort, overcome the control of escorting staff and leave the escort, the van or the building (hospital etc.). Those who escape for less than 15 minutes and commit an offence are also recorded as an escape.

Escapes are monitored to analyse the frequency across the estate and identify any trends nationally, also taking into consideration the management of risk to the public.

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Table

Period	Escapes from prison establishments and HMPPS escort
Apr 1995 to Mar 1996	88
Apr 1996 to Mar 1997	53
Apr 1997 to Mar 1998	33
Apr 1998 to Mar 1999	35
Apr 1999 to Mar 2000	38
Apr 2000 to Mar 2001	19
Apr 2001 to Mar 2002	26
Apr 2002 to Mar 2003	17
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004	16
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005	20
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006	11
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007	8
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	6
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	5
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	5
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	2
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	4
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	1
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	4
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	1
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	5
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	7
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	4
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	3
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	2
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	0
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	1

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

Data source

Published: 28 July 2022.

Absconds

An abscond is an escape that does not involve overcoming a physical security restraint such as that provided by a wall or fence, locks, bolts or bars, a secure vehicle, handcuffs or the direct supervision of staff.

Absconds are monitored to analyse the frequency across the open estate and identify any trends nationally also taking into consideration, the management of risk to the public. It is only possible to abscond from open prison conditions.

Chart
Table

Period	Absconds
Apr 1995 to Mar 1996	956
Apr 1996 to Mar 1997	1,115
Apr 1997 to Mar 1998	1,056
Apr 1998 to Mar 1999	965
Apr 1999 to Mar 2000	907
Apr 2000 to Mar 2001	787
Apr 2001 to Mar 2002	781
Apr 2002 to Mar 2003	947
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004	1,301
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005	870
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006	709
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007	553
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008	511
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009	361
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010	269
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011	235
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012	175
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013	204
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014	225
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015	181
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016	105
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017	86
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018	139
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019	119
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020	143
Apr 2020 to Mar 2021	101
Apr 2021 to Mar 2022	95

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

Data source

Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication

Published: 28 July 2022.

Security audit

An internal audit that assesses, on a four point scale, the level to which effective security procedures are adhered to within each prison.

There is no structured frequency for how often the security audit takes place, with the exception of long term high security prison establishments which are audited annually. The data presented here shows the most recent assessment for each prison establishment.

Values:

Rating 1: 6 prisons
Rating 2: 11 prisons
Rating 3: 63 prisons
Rating 4: 40 prisons

Data source: Prison performance ratings (annual)

Published: 28 July 2022. Next publication: 27 July 2023 9:30am.

2021-22

Community management

Electronic monitoring caseload

Total caseload.

Chart
Table

Period	Electronic monitoring caseload
31 March 2017	11,490
31 March 2018	11,205
31 March 2019	10,771
31 March 2020	10,422
31 March 2021	13,996
31 March 2022	15,394
31 March 2023	17,350

31 March 2023

17,350

Data source

Published: 27 April 2023. Next publication: 20 July 2023 9:30am.

Probation caseload

The statistics count each person once for each type of probation supervision being received on the date shown. In addition, each person is counted only once in each total or sub-total even if they were subject to several types of probation supervision at the year end (the examples above apply). Thus, the sum of the numbers receiving each type of court order probation supervision exceeds the number receiving court order probation supervision in total.

Chart
Table

Period	Probation caseload
30 Jun 2010	239,041
30 Jun 2011	236,154
30 Jun 2012	230,736
30 Jun 2013	219,548
30 Jun 2014	217,866
30 Jun 2015	228,844
30 Jun 2016	258,748
30 Jun 2017	262,347
30 Sep 2017	265,047
31 Dec 2017	264,649
31 Mar 2018	262,758
30 Jun 2018	261,196
30 Sep 2018	258,157
31 Dec 2018	256,010
31 Mar 2019	255,264
30 Jun 2019	254,165
30 Sep 2019	252,197
31 Dec 2019	247,759
31 Mar 2020	241,350
30 Jun 2020	224,587
30 Sep 2020	222,657
31 Dec 2020	223,973
31 Mar 2021	224,174
30 Jun 2021	230,578
30 Sep 2021	234,827
31 Dec 2021	238,500
31 Mar 2022	240,922
30 Jun 2022	243,127
30 Sep 2022	240,674
31 Dec 2022	240,431

31 Dec 2022

240,431

Data source