Knife attacks in jails increase

[22 July 2008]

Knife incidents among prison inmates has almost doubled over a seven year period.

According to government figures, 208 assaults involved a knife or blade in prisons in England and Wales in 2007. In 2000, the number of such incidents was 112. Justice Secretary Jack Straw said that the increase could be due to a rise in the prison population, increased reporting of incidents or improved data processing. The number of violent attacks among adult prisoners, including those involving offensive weapons such as knives, hot liquid, thrown furniture and blunt instruments, increased from 315 to 491 over the seven years. In young offenders institutions, the figure rose from 159 to 288.

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