PR 315: URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO END ENDEMIC PRISON VIOLENCE

The union representing the UK's 35,000 Prison Officers is calling for urgent action to address prison violence. The call came following the publication of the latest Safety in Custody statistics from the Ministry of Justice in England and Wales.

New figures show that an average of 27 assaults on Prison Staff are recorded each day, with 9,833 incidents representing 230% increase since 2010’s 2,977 figures.

While the number of deaths in custody fell by 42 to 359 deaths in custody in the year to June 2026, the number of serious assaults has risen to 3,419 in the past year - an average of 14 serious assaults a day - an increase of 141.8% since 2010 when 1,414 serious assaults were recorded.

All recorded Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults reached 21,245 (58.2 a day), up 3.3% on the year to March from 20,574. This is an 81% increase since 2010, which recorded 11,736 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults.

POA General Secretary Steve Gillan said:

“The level of violence in prisons across the country is completely unacceptable - it is endemic.

“It is being fuelled by drugs and contraband, the influence of organised crime gangs and a prison system that is overcrowded and understaffed.

“The POA will continue to campaign for urgent action from the Government and the Ministry of Justice to address the root causes of high levels of violence in our prisons.”

Mark Fairhurst, POA National Chair said:

“Prisoner-on-prisoner and prisoner-on-staff assaults are making the UK's jails one of the most hostile working environments in Europe.

“The POA has repeatedly called on the UK Government to take preventative action to protect both prisoners and Prison Officers.

“The introduction of stab-proof body armour, taser trials and PAVA in the youth estate are a result of the POA’s campaigning work. Every time we meet the Secretary of State, Civil Servants and Prison Service officials we raise the issue of prison violence and the need to protect our members. We will step up that campaigning work until we see lasting, positive change.”

ENDS

For further information, contact:

POA Press Office 020 8803 0255 Option 7