Safety and order
Prisons need to be and feel safe for both staff and prisoners. Violent incidents are the most obvious issue, but this is also about wider culture and atmosphere of the prison and the support it provides to vulnerable prisoners.
Audits and inspections are reported on a 4-point scale,from 1 (lowest rating) to 4 (highest rating).
Visit prisons and probation statistics for data sources and more details.
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 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.
| 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 | 130 |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 138 |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 152 |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 195 |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 227 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 262 |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 277 |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 250 |
| Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | 140 |
| Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | 163 |
| Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 | 185 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 217 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
217
Update Dec 2024
In the 12 months to Dec 2024 there were 233 prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Safety in custody statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 April 2025. Next publication: 31 July 2025 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.
| 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 | 35 |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 40 |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 46 |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 63 |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 84 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 106 |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 117 |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 109 |
| Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | 89 |
| Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | 97 |
| Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 | 92 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 114 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
114
Update Dec 2024
In the 12 months to Dec 2024 there were 122 assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Safety in custody statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 April 2025. Next publication: 31 July 2025 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.
| 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 | 266 |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 278 |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 320 |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 404 |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 474 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 549 |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 700 |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 768 |
| Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | 660 |
| Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | 684 |
| Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 | 733 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 852 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
852
Update Dec 2024
In the 12 months to Dec 2024 there were 910 self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Safety in custody statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 April 2025. Next publication: 31 July 2025 9:30am.
Self inflicted deaths
The number of self inflicted deaths in prisons.
As classification of deaths may change following inquest or as new information emerges, numbers may change from time to time. Please see the most recent publication for the most up to date figures.
Self-inflicted death statistics are typically reported one quarter ahead of other measures, so to maintain consistency, the values and dates presented reflect data from the previous quarter.
| Period | Self inflicted deaths |
|---|---|
| Apr 2010 to Mar 2011 | 54 |
| Apr 2011 to Mar 2012 | 67 |
| Apr 2012 to Mar 2013 | 63 |
| 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 | 85 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 85 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
85
Update Dec 2024
In the 12 months to Dec 2024 there were 89 self-inflicted deaths.
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Safety in custody statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 24 April 2025. Next publication: 31 July 2025 9:30am.
Barricades or prevention of access
The number of incidents 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.
| 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 2022 to Mar 2023 | 1,371 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 1,827 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
1,827
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Hostage incidents
The number of incidents where one or more persons are, unlawfully, held against their will by one or more individuals (either static or on the move), including hostage incidents where collusion was suspected or confirmed.
| Period | Hostage incidents |
|---|---|
| Apr 2007 to Mar 2008 | 38 |
| Apr 2008 to Mar 2009 | 25 |
| Apr 2009 to Mar 2010 | 19 |
| Apr 2010 to Mar 2011 | 20 |
| Apr 2011 to Mar 2012 | 50 |
| Apr 2012 to Mar 2013 | 54 |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 91 |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 113 |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 129 |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 128 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 127 |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 95 |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 80 |
| Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | 36 |
| Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | 37 |
| Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 | 51 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 58 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
58
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Concerted indiscipline
The number of incidents in which two or more prisoners act together in defiance of a lawful instruction or against requirements of the regime of the establishment. The act of indiscipline can be active or passive (i.e. involving aggression and violence or not) and the protagonists do not necessarily need to be acting in a common cause.
| Period | Concerted indiscipline |
|---|---|
| Apr 2007 to Mar 2008 | 118 |
| Apr 2008 to Mar 2009 | 127 |
| Apr 2009 to Mar 2010 | 98 |
| Apr 2010 to Mar 2011 | 98 |
| Apr 2011 to Mar 2012 | 117 |
| Apr 2012 to Mar 2013 | 99 |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 151 |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 206 |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 276 |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 380 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 339 |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 351 |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 267 |
| Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | 159 |
| Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | 138 |
| Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 | 190 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 289 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
289
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Incidents at height
The number of incidents at height in prisons. An incident at height is defined as any incident taking place at height above or below ground level. This category can come in many forms including prisoners on the netting, climbing over bars or on the roof.
| Period | Incidents at height |
|---|---|
| Apr 2012 to Mar 2013 | 738 |
| Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 | 1,281 |
| Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 | 1,726 |
| Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 | 2,685 |
| Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 | 3,825 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 | 4,846 |
| Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 | 5,568 |
| Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 | 6,114 |
| Apr 2020 to Mar 2021 | 4,081 |
| Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 | 4,157 |
| Apr 2022 to Mar 2023 | 5,188 |
| Apr 2023 to Mar 2024 | 7,783 |
Apr 2023 to Mar 2024
7,783
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.
Publication date
Published: 25 July 2024.
Safety Audit/Risk Management Audit
An announced audit to determine how effectively the prison is assessing and managing risks of violence and self-harm.
The audit is carried out approximately every three to four years. The data presented here shows the most recent assessment for each prison establishment. The Safety Audit has now replaced the Risk Management Audit, however, in those prisons where a Safety Audit has not taken place yet, the Risk Management Audit score is used.
Values:
- 4 - Outstanding performance: 3 prisons
- 3 - Good performance: 57 prisons
- 2 - Performance of concern: 32 prisons
- 1 - Performance of serious concern: 1 prisons
For the source of this information and more details please refer to the publication: Prison performance ratings (annual)
1 - Performance of serious concern