Latest editorial
ATTACKS in prisons are occurring once every 20 minutes, shocking figures published today reveal, as violence behind bars reaches record levels.
There were 31,025 assaults in prisons in England and Wales in the year to March — a 16 per cent increase on the previous year and almost double the figure of a decade ago.
Incidents of self-harm among prisoners also increased by 16 per cent to a new record high of 46,859 — representing an incident of self-harm every 11 minutes.
Our members face serious violence, crumbling workplaces and exposure to dangerous drugs — it is outrageous we still cannot legally use our industrial muscle to fight back and defend ourselves, writes STEVE GILLAN
MARK FAIRHURST highlights the main issues facing officers in a long neglected service, and raised by front-line delegates at POA conference last week, including understaffing, violence, bullying and the ongoing denial of workers’ right to strike
