Safety in custody quarterly bulletin: March 2017
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Safety in Custody. Data on assaults, self-harm and assaults in prisons in England and Wales. Headline figures produced quarterly with more detailed figures produced annually in April.

Published 27 July 2017 
Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, England and 
Wales, Deaths in prison custody to June 2017, 
Assaults and Self-Harm to March 2017 
Main Points 
Deaths see first 
year-on-year 
decrease since 
March 2013 
 
 
There were 316 deaths in prison custody in the 12 months to June 
2017, down from 322 in the previous year. Two of these were 
homicides, down from 5. There were 97 self-inflicted deaths, down 
10, 6 of which were in the female estate.  
Quarterly self-harm 
has stabilised at 
historical highs  
 
 
 
Self-harm reached a record high of 40,414 incidents in the 12 
months to March 2017, up 5,749 (17%) from the previous year. 
After four consecutive quarters of record high numbers, however, 
the last quarter saw a quarter-on-quarter drop by 409 incidents 
(4%). The number of incidents requiring hospital attendance rose 
by 13% to 2,771.  
Assaults and 
serious assaults 
continue to rise, 
reaching record 
highs 
 
 
Assaults have continued to increase, reaching a record high of 
26,643 incidents in the 12 months to March 2017, up 4,461 (20%) 
from the previous year. Of these, 3,606 (or 14%) were serious 
assaults, up 22% from the previous year. In the most recent 
quarter, there was a 2% increase in assault incidents.  
After a dip last 
quarter, prisoner-
on-prisoner 
assaults continue to 
rise 
 
 
There were 19,361 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, up 2,630 (16%) 
from the previous year. Of these, 2,825 (15%) were serious, up 
21% from the previous year. Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults saw a 
1% increase in the latest quarter. 
Assaults on staff 
increasing to record 
high in latest year 
and quarter 
 
 
There were 7,159 assaults on staff, up 1,750 (32%) from the 
previous year. Serious assaults on staff have trebled since 2013, 
reaching 805 in the in the 12 months to March 2017, up 25% on 
the previous period. Assaults on staff increased by 5% in the latest 
quarter, reaching a new quarterly record high. 
 
Safety in custody statistics cover deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody in England and 
Wales, with figures in quarterly summary tables presented on a 12-month rolling basis over a 
10-year time series. Supplementary annual tables, providing more in-depth statistics on deaths, 
self-harm and assaults on a calendar year basis, underlying data files with pivot tables providing 
lower level granularity, and a guidance technical document are also available alongside this 
bulletin, and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-
statistics 

 
 
- 2 - 
1 Deaths  
Deaths see first year-on-year decrease since March 2013 
 
In the 12 months to June 2017, there were 316 deaths in prison custody, down 6 from the previous 
year. Of these, 97 deaths were self-inflicted, down 10 from the previous year. 
 
Figure 1: Rate of deaths per 1,000 prisoners, 12 months ending June 2008 to 12 months 
ending June 2017, with annualised quarterly rates  
 
 
In the 12 months to June 2017 there were 316 deaths in prison custody, a decrease of 2% 
compared to the previous year, at a rate of 3.7 deaths per 1,000 prisoners. The most recent 
quarter saw the lowest number of total deaths since the three months to December 2015. 
Quarterly death figures should be considered with caution due to greater volatility and the 
potential for seasonal effects. Long-term trends and more detail are presented in annual tables1. 
There were 97 apparent self-inflicted deaths, down 9% on the previous year. On a rate basis this 
is 1.1 per 1,000 prisoners. Within the female estate, there were 6 self-inflicted deaths at a rate of 
1.5 per 1,000 prisoners. There were 2 apparent homicides, down from 5 in the previous year. 
Homicides in prison custody remain relatively rare, accounting for around 1% of all deaths over 
the last ten years. 
There were 189 deaths due to natural causes, the same as the previous year. Natural-cause 
deaths were at a rate of 2.2 per 1,000 prisoners. 
There were 28 deaths recorded as ‘other’ in the 12 months to June 2017, 25 of which are 
‘awaiting further information’ prior to being classified. Some of the deaths were inconclusive after 
toxicology and post-mortem, meaning classification cannot be arrived at until inquest (which can 
be a considerable time after the death), while others remain awaiting results at the time of 
publication. There has been a particularly high number of deaths awaiting further classification in 
this period. As a result, the number of deaths in the individual categories is not directly 
comparable with earlier years: it is likely that numbers in each category will be revised upwards 
once classifications have been finalised. 
 
                                                 
1 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics 

 
 
- 3 - 
2 Self-harm  
Quarterly self-harm has stabilised at historical highs  
 
Self-harm has reached a record high of 40,414 incidents, up 5,749 from the previous year, and has 
been stable at historical highs for the past five quarters. Incidents requiring hospital attendance also 
reached a record high of 2,771. 
 
Figure 2: Rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners, 12 months ending March 2008 to 
12 months ending March 2017, with annualised quarterly rates 
 
 
In the 12 months to March 2017, there were 40,414 reported incidents of self-harm (a rate of 474 
per 1,000 prisoners), up 17% on the previous year. The number of self-harm incidents requiring 
hospital attendance increased by 13% on the previous year to 2,771 while the proportion of 
incidents that required hospital attendance remains broadly similar at 6.9%. The number of self-
harm incidents and those requiring hospital attendance are both the highest in the time series.  
The quarterly rate of incidents increased between March 2014 and June 2016, before stabilising 
for the last five quarters at the historical high. In the most recent quarter, from January to March 
2017, self-harm levels have decreased slightly, with 9,837 incidents (down 4% quarter on 
quarter), 701 of which required hospital attendance.  
The number of prisoners who self-harmed in the 12 months to March 2017 was 11,010 (a rate of 
129 prisoners per 1,000), up 10% from the previous year. Those that self-harmed did so, on 
average, 3.7 times, although a relatively small number of prolific self-harmers have a 
disproportionate impact on this figure.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
- 4 - 
Figure 3: Rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners by gender of establishment, 12 
months ending March 2008 to 12 months ending March 2017  
 
 
Self-harm trends differ considerably by gender, with a rate of 409 incidents per 1,000 in male 
establishments (with incidents up 24% on the previous year) compared to a rate of 1,835 per 
1,000 in female establishments (a reduction of 8% in number of incidents from the previous year).  
After five years of stability in the prolificacy of self-harm among males, there has been an 
increase from 3.0 to 3.4 incidents per self-harming male in the most recent period. In contrast, 
self-harm prolificacy among females has fallen from 6.7 to 6.2 incidents per self-harming female. 
 
Self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance increased from the previous year in male 
establishments by 14% to 2,616, while female establishments saw a decrease of 1% to 155 
incidents. The proportion of self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance remained relatively 
stable at 6.9% to March 2017, compared to 7.1% in the previous year. The slight decrease is due 
to the fact that the total number of self-harm incidents rose at a higher rate than the number of 
incidents requiring hospital attendance. 
 
While self-harmers in female establishments were roughly twice as prolific as those in male 
establishments, self-harmers in male establishments had slightly less than four times the 
proportion of self-harm incidents that require hospitalisation (7.9% in male establishments 
compared to 2.2% in female establishments). 

 
 
- 5 - 
3 Assaults 
Assaults and serious assaults continue to rise, reaching record highs 
 
Assaults have continued to increase, reaching a record high of 26,643 assault incidents in the 12 
months to March 2017, up 4,461 (20%) from the previous year. Of these, 3,606 were serious 
assaults, up 22% from the previous year.  
Figure 4: Rate of total assaults by gender of establishment, 12 months ending March 2008 
to 12 months ending March 2017, with annualised quarterly rates  
 
 
In the 12 months to March 2017, there were 26,643 assault incidents (a rate of 312 incidents per 
1,000 prisoners), an increase of 20% on the previous year, and the highest level in the time 
series. Of these, 3,606 were serious assaults, up 22% on the previous year. Since the 12 months 
to March 2013, serious assaults have almost trebled. 
Figure 5: Rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and assaults on staff, 12 months ending 
March 2008 to 12 months ending March 2017, with annualised quarterly rates  
 
 

 
 
- 6 - 
There were 19,361 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in the 12 months to March 2017 (a rate of 227 
per 1,000 prisoners), up 16% on the previous year. Of these, 2,825 were serious assaults, up 
21% on the previous year. 
There were 7,159 assaults on staff in the 12 months to March 2017 (a rate of 84 per 1,000 
prisoners), up 32% on the previous year. Of these, 805 were serious assaults, up 25% on the 
previous year. 
The most recent quarter saw an increase in all types of assaults compared to the three-month 
period from October to December 2016, which had the first drop in incident numbers since 2014. 
Quarterly assaults on staff increased by 5%, reaching a new quarterly record high. Total assaults 
increased by 2%, and prisoner-on-prisoner incidents, by 1%.  
3.1 
Serious assaults 
Serious assaults are those which fall into one or more of the following categories: a sexual 
assault, requires detention in outside hospital as an in-patient; requires medical treatment for 
concussion or internal injuries; or incurs any of the following injuries: a fracture, scald or burn, 
stabbing, crushing, extensive or multiple bruising, black eye, broken nose, lost or broken tooth, 
cuts requiring suturing, bites, temporary or permanent blindness.                             
Figure 6: Rate of serious assaults total, serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, and serious 
assaults on staff, 12 months ending March 2008 to 12 months ending March 2017, with 
annualised quarterly rates  
 
 
After a prolonged period of stability in the time series, there has been a clear upward trend since 
December 2012 in serious assault incidents of all types. The number of serious assaults and 
serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults are more than 2.7 times higher than in the 12 months to 
March 2013, while serious assaults on staff have trebled. 
In the latest quarter there has been a 5% increase in total serious assaults compared to the three 
months to December 2016. Serious assaults on staff increased by 7% over this period, and 
serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults saw a 4% rise. All types of serious assault remain below 
their record level in the three months to September 2016. 

 
 
- 7 - 
No change to the definition of serious assaults 
In the last publication, 27 April 2017, we announced that HMPPS were considering expanding the 
definition of serious assaults incidents to include the throwing of urine or excrement and spitting. 
Following a review, it has been decided that, to ensure a consistent approach, the National 
Statistics will continue to report incidents on the same basis as previously. Assault incidents 
involving spitting and throwing of urine and excrement will continue to be reported in the annual 
statistics as types of weapons used in assault incidents.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
- 8 - 
Further Information  
Accompanying files 
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release: 
 
A technical guide providing further information on how the data are collected and 
processed, as well as information on the revisions policy and legislation relevant to 
sentencing trends and background on the functioning of the criminal justice system. 
 
A set of summary tables for the latest quarter, and annual tables for the latest calendar 
year. 
 
Underlying data files with pivot tables, giving lower level granularity. 
 
National Statistics status 
National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of 
trustworthiness, quality and public value. 
All official statistics should comply with all aspects of the Code of Practice for Official 
Statistics. They are awarded National Statistics status following an assessment by the Authority’s 
regulatory arm. The Authority considers whether the statistics meet the highest standards of 
Code compliance, including the value they add to public decisions and debate. 
It is the Ministry of Justice’s responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected for 
National Statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the 
appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority promptly. National 
Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and 
reinstated when standards are restored. 
 
Contact 
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:  
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx  
Email: xxx@xxx.xx  
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to:  
Kate Shaw 
Prison and Probation Analytical Services  
Ministry of Justice 
Clive House  
70 Petty France 
London  
SW1H 9EX 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
Next update: 26 October 2017 
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics  
 
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Alternative formats are available on request from xxx@xxx.xx