Lord Falconer, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, responding to the publication of the latest Safety in Custody statistics, said:

“The Government are in denial about the crisis in our prisons. The Tories have talked up a rehabilitation revolution since before they were in government but on their watch, deaths and self-harm incidents have soared, while serious assaults have more than doubled.

“It’s shameful and utterly unacceptable that prison staff should have to face this level of threat in the workplace. Prisons will never be effective in challenge re-offending behaviour and protecting victims of crime while this shocking level of violence continues.  

“Ministers must urgently address the safety of prison staff and tackle the growing crisis in our prisons.”