Richard Burgon MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on today’s statistics from the Ministry of Justice that show a rise in violence in jails, said:

“Today’s statistics are yet more evidence of the crisis that has developed in our prisons under the Tories.  With thousands more assaults, self-harm incidents and record deaths in prison, violence is at historic levels and continues to rise.

“Even the Ministry of Justice itself now concedes that the rise in assaults since 2012 has ‘coincided with major changes to the regime … including staff reductions’. As well as contributing to this chaotic environment, the level of staff cuts has damaged morale and made retention increasingly difficult.

“The ongoing delay in publishing the Prison Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech is further evidence the Tories are failing to get a grip and deliver a prison system that works.”