Prison Violence in the UK: How Safe Are Prisons?
Last reviewed: June 2026. Figures change — check GOV.UK for the latest.
In short: violence and self-harm in prisons in England and Wales are at high levels. In the most recent Ministry of Justice figures (12 months to December 2025) there were around 247 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners (up about 6%) and around 117 assaults on staff per 1,000 (down about 4.5%). Self-harm remains very high, and there were 352 deaths in custody in the 12 months to March 2026. The main drivers are overcrowding, drugs, debt and staffing pressures. Prisons run safety measures — the Samaritans-trained Listeners, the ACCT process, keywork and violence-reduction strategies — and there are practical things prisoners can do to stay safer.
What the official figures show
| Measure (12 months to Dec 2025) | Rate / figure |
|---|---|
| Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults | ~247 per 1,000 prisoners (up ~6%) |
| Assaults on staff | ~117 per 1,000 prisoners (down ~4.5%) |
| Self-inflicted deaths | 79 in the 12 months to Dec 2025 |
| All deaths in custody (to Mar 2026) | 352, down 12% on the previous year |
These are published quarterly in the Safety in Custody statistics. Rates are higher in some women’s prisons, where assaults and self-harm are often linked to mental-health need.
Why violence happens
The biggest drivers are well understood: overcrowding (more people, less time out of cell, more friction); the trade in drugs — especially psychoactive substances like “spice” — which fuels debt and intimidation; and pressure on staffing, which reduces supervision and the time staff can spend defusing tension. Debt between prisoners is one of the most common triggers of assaults.
How prisons try to keep people safe
Safety measures include the Listeners scheme (prisoners trained by the Samaritans to give confidential peer support), the ACCT process for anyone identified as at risk of self-harm or suicide, keywork from a personal officer, violence-reduction strategies, body-worn cameras for staff, and separating prisoners who are at risk (for example on a Vulnerable Prisoner Unit). Drug-supply reduction and security measures aim to tackle a root cause.
Staying safer inside
- Avoid debt and drugs — the two biggest causes of violence.
- Don’t get drawn into other people’s disputes.
- Report threats to staff early — don’t try to deal with them alone.
- Use Listeners, healthcare and the chaplaincy if you feel unsafe or low.
- Keep to a routine and stay connected to family — isolation makes things worse.
For families worried about safety
If you are concerned about someone’s safety, raise it with the prison’s safer-custody team, and through the complaints process or the Independent Monitoring Board. The Samaritans (116 123, free, any time) support anyone in distress, inside or out.
Frequently asked questions
How violent are UK prisons?
Assault rates are high — around 247 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults per 1,000 in the latest year — though staff-assault rates fell slightly.
What causes most prison violence?
Overcrowding, drugs, debt and staffing pressures.
What is the Listeners scheme?
Prisoners trained by the Samaritans to provide confidential emotional support to other prisoners.
How many people die in prison each year?
There were 352 deaths in custody in the 12 months to March 2026, down 12% on the year before.
Related guides and official sources
See prison survival tips, overcrowding and healthcare in prisons. Official: GOV.UK Safety in Custody statistics. If you are struggling, the Samaritans are free on 116 123.
