Every week in prisons there are 600 incidents of self-harm, at least one suicide, and 350 assaults, including 90 on staff.
Correct, although suicides aren't measured precisely. 2015 was the worst year on record for these incidents.
“In a typical week [in prisons], there will be almost 600 incidents of self-harm; at least one suicide; and 350 assaults, including 90 on staff.”
David Cameron, 8 February 2016
These figures are correct for self-harm and assaults in England and Wales; suicides are less certain. 2015 was the worst year on record for these incidents.
In 2015 there were 590 incidents of self-harm a week and 360 assaults including about 90 on staff. The rate of self-harm and assault incidents hit record levels in the year ending September 2015 as well.
The government’s figure for suicides is actually measured as “self-inflicted deaths”—this can include people willingly taking their own lives and accidental deaths. Self-inflicted deaths were at least one a week in 2015 and happened at a higher rate than has mostly been the case in the past ten years.
Full Fact fights for good, reliable information in the media, online, and in politics.
Bad information ruins lives. It promotes hate, damages people’s health, and hurts democracy. You deserve better.