Official figures show that the numbers of deaths, self-harm incidents and assaults in prisons in England and Wales have increased to new record levels. Photo credit: Press Association/Peter Macdiarmid. All rights reserved.
Perhaps one of the most disturbing features of imprisonment today is the high number of self-inflicted deaths (SIDs). At 120 SIDs per 100,000 people prisoners are nearly 10 times more likely to take their own lives than those living in the wider community. A recent government report, published on 26 January, states that there were 119 self-inflicted deaths in prisons in 2016 (and this number may still rise as 28 prisoner deaths are still awaiting classification), equating to one prisoner taking their own life every three days in prisons in England and Wales. 354 people in total died in prison in England and Wales in 2016 (on average of nearly one person a day). Deaths in prison are up by 38% and there has been a 32% increase in SIDS from 2015. This year (up until 20 January) there were already 15 deaths in prison. All of this points to the fact that prisons are places of terrible harm and death.
There were 119 self-inflicted deaths in prisons in 2016, equating to one prisoner taking their own life every three days.
