National statistics

Safety in Custody Statistics, England and Wales: Deaths in Prison Custody to June 2021, Assaults and Self-harm to March 2021

Published 29 July 2021

Applies to England and Wales

Main Points

Number of deaths increased form the previous 12-month period	In the 12 months to June 2021, there were 396 deaths in prison custody, an increase of 34% from 295 deaths the previous 12 months. Of these, 80 deaths were self-inflicted, a 3% increase from the 78 self-inflicted deaths in the previous 12 months. In the most recent quarter there were 69 deaths, a 55% decrease from a peak of 154 deaths in the previous quarter.
The rate of self-harm incidents decreased in male establishments from the previous 12-month period but increased in female establishments	There were 52,339 self-harm incidents in the 12 months to March 2021, down 19% from the previous 12 months, comprising a 22% decrease in male establishments and a 4% decrease in female establishments. Over the same period, the rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners, which takes account of the reduction in the prison population between this and the previous year, decreased 19% in male establishments but increased 12% in female establishments. In the most recent quarter, there were 12,126 self-harm incidents, down 7% on the previous quarter, comprising a 4% decrease in male establishments and a 17% decrease in female establishments.
The number of individuals self-harming decreased	There were 11,503 individuals self-harming in the 12 months to March 2021, down 13% from the previous 12 months. The number of self-harm incidents per individual decreased from 4.9 in the 12 months to March 2020 to 4.6 in the 12 months to March 2021.
Assaults decreased from the previous 12-month period	There were 18,895 assault incidents in the 12 months to March 2021, down 40% from the 12 months to March 2020. In the most recent quarter, assaults decreased by 2% to 4,617 incidents.
Assaults on staff have decreased	There were 7,479 assaults on staff in the 12 months to March 2021, down 24% from the previous 12 months. In the latest quarter the number of assaults decreased by 6% to 1,778 incidents.
The number of serious assaults decreased 10% of all assaults were serious	In the 12 months to March 2021, there were 1,954 serious assault incidents, a decrease of 47% from the previous 12 months. Serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased by 54% to 1,289 in the 12 months to March 2021. Serious assaults on staff also decreased, by 27% to 692.

Statistician’s comment

In the 12 months to March 2021 we have seen falls in the number of self-harm and assault incidents, and in the 12 months to June 2021 we have seen an increase in the number of deaths. Statistics for these periods relate to the exceptional period since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, including reduced activity within the Criminal Justice System and the restricted regimes prisons put in place in order to safely manage the risks of infection during the pandemic (see Further Information at the end of this bulletin). Comparisons of these statistics with earlier periods will reflect the impact of Covid-19 as well as underlying trends.

Deaths have increased by 34% to 396 deaths in the year to June 2021. This has been driven by deaths related to Covid-19. However, in the latest quarter deaths fell by 55% to 69, from a peak of 154 in the previous quarter, and only two were suspected to be due to Covid-19. There were 80 self-inflicted deaths in the latest year, a small increase from 78 in the previous year.

The number of self-harm incidents has fallen in the 12 months to March 2021, by 19%, comprising decreases of 22% in male establishments and 4% in female establishments. This partially reflects a fall in the prison population over the same period, with fewer receptions of sentenced offenders following reduced court activity in response to Covid-19 (as set out in Offender management statistics quarterly: October to December 2020). With the fall in the prison population taken into account, the rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners decreased by 19% in male establishments but increased by 12% in female establishments in the 12 months to March 2021.

The number of assault incidents fell by 40% in the 12 months to March 2021, including a 47% fall in serious assaults. In addition to reflecting the reduced prison population, this is expected to be influenced by the reduced contact included in prison regimes to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection. Taking the fall in the population into account, assault rates decreased in both male and female establishments, by 38% and 24% respectively.

Background

Safety in custody statistics cover deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody and HMPPS Immigration Removal Centres in England and Wales, with figures in the summary tables in the quarterly publications presented on a 12-month rolling basis over an 11 year time series^{[footnote 1]}. This release provides statistics on deaths of prisoners to the end of June 2021, and deaths from Covid-19 have been presented in the section below.

The release also provides statistics on assaults and self-harm up to the end of March 2021. The latest 12-month data reflects a full year since the outbreak of Covid-19, when Covid-19 restrictions were introduced in prisons to limit and control the spread of the virus. These restrictions included the implementation of effective isolation of prisoners, reverse cohorting of new entrants to custody, and shielding of vulnerable prisoners. See Further Information at the end of this bulletin on the managing and running of prisons during the pandemic.

The total prison population has fallen since the first quarter of 2020, falling more so for certain population groups^{[footnote 2]}. As at 31 March 2021, the total prison population was around 4,900 or 6% smaller than at the same point in the previous year^{[footnote 3]}. The female population was reduced by 14%, whereas the male population has reduced by 6%.

These changes in population should be borne in mind when interpreting changes in the numbers of incidents over the past year. In the context of substantial population change, rates per 1,000 prisoners more accurately describe changes in the likelihood of incidents occurring^{[footnote 4]}. Data on deaths, self-harm and assaults are routinely presented as rates of incidents per 1,000 prisoners (as well as numbers) for all prisoners and the male and female estates. Additional commentary is offered where these rates indicate different trends to the numbers of incidents.

Supplementary annual tables, providing more in-depth statistics 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, at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics.

Youth Estate

These statistics include incidents that occurred in the youth estate. However, readers should be aware of the ‘Safety in the children and young people secure estate’ statistics bulletin. This provides quarterly statistics on assault and self-harm incidents, and deaths for children and young people in the secure estate. It is being published simultaneously to this Safety in Custody quarterly bulletin at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/safety-in-the-youth-secure-estate-bulletin

For continuity in the Safety in Custody data series, incidents in the youth estate and associated tables are included in this Safety in Custody bulletin, but readers are referred to ‘Safety in the children and young people secure estate’ for commentary.

Historically Safety in Custody statistics for the youth estate use an age-based definition for youth incidents, whereas the ‘Safety in the children and young people secure estate’ statistics are based on the accommodation type. Both methodologies include all incidents occurring in dedicated under-18 Young Offender Institutions (even if they’re aged over 17)^{[footnote 5]}. However, Safety in Custody statistics also includes all incidents in other establishments involving young people aged 15 to 17. Furthermore, ‘Safety in the children and young people secure estate’ statistics also includes all incidents within the youth estate at Parc Young People’s Unit and the under 18 part of Feltham as well as other custody settings holding under 18s previously not covered by Safety in Custody. For continuity and to align with the definition of the youth estate used in ‘Safety in the children and young people secure estate’, tables in this publication present data for the latest year(s) using both the historic methodology of Safety in Custody and also the methodology of the youth publication^{[footnote 6]}.

1. Deaths: 12 months ending June 2021

Number of deaths increased from the previous 12-month period	In the 12 months to June 2021, there were 396 deaths in prison custody, an increase of 34% from 295 deaths in the previous 12 months which corresponds with deaths related to Covid-19. There were 80 self-inflicted deaths, an increase of 3% from 78 in the previous 12 months. In the most recent quarter there were 69 deaths, a 55% decrease from a peak of 154 deaths in the previous quarter.
The number of deaths related to Covid-19 decreased in the most recent quarter	In the most recent quarter (April to June 2021), there were 2 deaths (3% of total deaths) that were suspected to be due to Covid-19, a decrease from 66 deaths (43% of total deaths) in the previous quarter. In the same period, there were 3 deaths within 28 days of having a positive Covid-19 test or where there was a clinical assessment that Covid-19 was a contributory factor, a decrease from 72 in the previous quarter. There were 20 self-inflicted deaths in the most recent quarter, 6 less than in the previous quarter.

Figure 1: Quarterly 12-month rolling rate of deaths per 1,000 prisoners, 12 months ending June 2011 to 12 months ending June 2021, with quarterly rates

In the 12 months to June 2021, there were 396 deaths in prison custody (a rate of 5.0 per 1,000 prisoners), an increase from 295 deaths in the previous 12 months (a rate of 3.6 per 1,000 prisoners). Long-term trends and more detail are presented in the annual tables^{[footnote 7]}.

Over the same period, there were 271 deaths due to natural causes (a rate of 3.5 per 1,000 prisoners), a 41% increase from 192 deaths (a rate of 2.3 per 1,000 prisoners) in the previous 12 months. This increase of 79 in deaths due to natural causes in the 12 months to June 2021 reflects deaths from Covid-19 (with further information on these below).

There were 80 apparent self-inflicted deaths in the 12 months to June 2021, an increase of 3% from 78 self-inflicted deaths in the previous 12 months. The rate of self-inflicted deaths increased from 0.9 per 1,000 prisoners in the previous 12 months to 1.0 in the latest 12 months.

There were 44 deaths recorded as ‘Other’ in the 12 months to June 2021, 26 of which are ‘awaiting further information’ prior to being classified. In some cases, the results of the toxicology and post-mortem tests are inconclusive, meaning classification cannot be arrived at until inquest (which can be a considerable time after the death). As a result, the number of deaths in the individual categories is not directly comparable with earlier years: it is likely that numbers in some categories will be revised upwards once classifications have been finalised.

In the most recent quarter there were 69 deaths, a 55% decrease from a peak of 154 deaths in the previous quarter. This reflected a large decrease in deaths from Covid-19 (further information below) in the 3 months to June 2021, following a peak in Covid-19 deaths the previous quarter. There were 20 self-inflicted deaths in the second quarter of 2021, a decrease from 26 in the previous quarter. However, quarterly death figures should be considered with caution due to greater volatility and the potential for seasonal effects.

Deaths from Covid-19

From the start of the pandemic in March 2020 to the end of June 2021, 149 prisoners have died within 28 days of having a positive Covid-19 test or where there was a clinical assessment that Covid-19 was a contributory factor in their deaths regardless of the cause of death. Of these 149 deaths, 120 are suspected to be due to Covid-19. The remaining 29 deaths are believed to be due to other causes although the prisoner had tested positive for Covid-19.

In the latest quarter (April to June 2021), a lower proportion of deaths were related to Covid-19 than in previous quarters of 2020/21. In this quarter, 4% of all deaths were of prisoners who had died within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19, down from 47% of all deaths in the previous quarter. Similarly, deaths suspected to have been due to Covid-19 made up 3% of all deaths in the latest quarter, down from 43% in the previous quarter.

As with all deaths in prison custody, each case will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman and subject to an inquest to determine the official cause of death and where necessary this data will be updated.

The most up to date data on deaths suspected to be due to Covid-19 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-prison-and-probation-service-covid-19-statistics-monthly

2. Self-harm: 12 months to March 2021

The rate of self-harm incidents decreased in the male estate from the previous 12-month period but increased in the female estate	There were 52,339 self-harm incidents in the 12 months to March 2021, down 19% from the previous 12 months (a 22% decrease in male establishments and a 4% decrease in female establishments). Taking into account of the fall in the prison average population throughout 2020, the rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners decreased 19% in male establishments but increased 12% in female establishments in the 12 months to March 2021. In the most recent quarter there were 12,126 self-harm incidents, down 7% on the previous quarter (a 4% decrease in male establishments and a 17% decrease in female establishments).
The number of individuals self-harming decreased 13% in the latest year.	There were 11,503 individuals self-harming in the 12 months to March 2021, a 13% decrease from 13,180 in the previous 12 months. The number of self-harm incidents per individual decreased to 4.6 in the 12 months to March 2021, from 4.9 in the previous year.

Statistics for the 12 months to March 2021 relate to the exceptional period since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restricted regimes prisons put in place in order to safely manage the risks of infection during the pandemic (see Further Information at the end of this bulletin). This affects the comparability of the statistics with earlier periods.

Figure 2: Quarterly 12-month rolling rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners, 12 months ending March 2011 to 12 months ending March 2021, with quarterly rates

In the 12 months to March 2021, there were 52,339 reported incidents of self-harm (a rate of 662 per 1,000 prisoners), down 19% from the previous 12 months. On a quarterly basis, the number of incidents in the three months to March 2021 decreased by 7% from the previous quarter, from 12,981 to 12,126 incidents.

The number of individuals self-harming decreased by 13% to 11,503 in the latest 12 months (a rate of 146 individuals per 1,000 prisoners), from 13,180 in the previous 12 months. The number of incidents per self-harming individual decreased from 4.9 in the previous year to 4.6 in the latest 12 months, although a small number of prolific self-harmers have a disproportionate impact on this figure. Just over a half (52%) of prisoners who self-harmed in 2020 did so more than once.

The number of self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance decreased by 25% to 2,587 in the 12 months to March 2021 and decreased by 5% in the latest quarter to 639 incidents. The proportion of incidents that required hospital attendance decreased from 5.3% in the 12 months to March 2020 to 4.9% in the latest 12 months.

Figure 3: Quarterly 12-month rolling rate of self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners by gender of establishment, 12 months ending March 2011 to 12 months ending March 2021

Self-harm trends differ considerably by gender. The number of incidents in male establishments decreased by 22% from 52,495 in the 12 months to March 2020 to 40,801 in the 12 months to March 2021. The number of incidents in the female estate decreased 4% from 12,057 in the previous 12 months to 11,538. On a quarterly basis, the number of incidents in the three months to March 2021 decreased by 4% in male establishments compared with the previous three months and decreased by 17% in female establishments.

The rate of incidents, which takes population size into account, was 538 incidents per 1,000 prisoners in the male estate in the 12 months to March 2021, down 19% from 661 incidents per 1,000 prisoners in the 12 months to March 2020. The rate of incidents per 1,000 prisoners in female establishments was far higher, and increased by 12%, from 3,207 in the previous 12 months to 3,582 in the latest 12 months.

The number of incidents per individual who self-harmed in female establishments was more than twice that in male establishments and increased in the latest year. In the 12 months to March 2021, there were 9.7 incidents of self-harm per self-harming female compared with 9.5 the previous 12 months, while for males it decreased to 4.0 incidents per self-harming individual from 4.4 the previous 12 months.

The proportion of incidents that required hospitalisation was higher in male establishments (5.5% compared to 2.9% in female establishments). Self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance decreased in male establishments by 28%, from 3,134 in the 12 months to March 2020 to 2,255 in the 12 months to March 2021, and increased by 13% to 322 in female establishments in the latest 12 months.

3. Assaults: 12 months to March 2021

Assaults and serious assaults decreased from the previous 12-month period.	In the 12 months to March 2021, there were 18,895 assault incidents, a 40% decrease from the previous 12 months. Of these 1,954 were serious assaults, down by 47%. Rates of assault and serious assault per 1,000 prisoners decreased to a lesser extent, by 37% and 43% respectively. Assaults decreased by 2% in the latest quarter to 4,617 incidents, although the number of serious assaults increased by 5% to 499 incidents.
The rate of assault per 1,000 prisoners was higher in female than male establishments.	The rate of assault in male establishments decreased by 38% from the previous 12 months, while the rate in female establishments decreased by 24%. This resulted in assault rates for the 12 months to March 2021 being higher in female establishments (279 incidents per 1,000 prisoners) than in male establishments (237 incidents per 1,000 prisoners).
Assaults on staff decreased from the previous 12-month period	There were 7,479 assaults on staff in the 12 months to March 2021, a 24% decrease from the previous 12 months. The rate of assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners decreased to a lesser extent, by 19%. In the latest quarter the number of assaults on staff decreased by 6% to 1,778 incidents. The rate of assault on staff decreased by 21% in male establishments and by 2% in female establishments compared with the previous 12 months.

Statistics for the 12 months to March 2021 relate to the exceptional period since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restricted regimes prisons put in place in order to safely manage the risks of infection during the pandemic (see Further Information at the end of this bulletin). This affects the comparability of the statistics with earlier periods.

Figure 4: Quarterly 12-month rolling rate of total assaults by gender of establishment, 12 months ending March 2011 to 12 months ending March 2021, with quarterly rates

In the 12 months to March 2021, assault incidents decreased by 40% to 18,895, a rate of 239 incidents per 1,000 prisoners. This represents a decrease in the rate of assault per 1,000 prisoners (which takes into account the decrease in the prison population over the period) of a lesser extent, 37%. In the latest quarter, there were 4,617 assaults, a decrease of 2% from the previous quarter. The quarterly figure reached a peak of 9,111 in the July to September 2018 quarter. It has continued on a downward trend since then, including a considerable decrease in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic associated with changes in prison regimes and activity in the criminal justice system.

The number of incidents in male establishments decreased by 40% from 30,189 to 17,995 in the 12 months to March 2021. The rate of assaults decreased to a similar extent over this period, by 38% to 237 per 1,000 prisoners.

The number of incidents in female establishments decreased by 35% from 1,378 to 900 incidents in the 12 months to March 2021. The rate of assault also decreased over this period but to a lesser extent, by 24% to 279 per 1,000 prisoners. With rates of assault decreasing to a greater extent in male establishments than in female establishments in the latest 12 months, assault rates were higher in female establishments than in male establishments.

In the latest quarter, the number of assaults in male establishments decreased by 1% to 4,617, and the number of assaults in female establishments decreased by 24% to 200.

Figure 5: Quarterly 12-month rolling rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and assaults on staff, 12 months ending March 2011 to 12 months ending March 2021, with quarterly rates

There were 11,674 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults^{[footnote 8]} in the 12 months to March 2021 (a rate of 148 per 1,000 prisoners). This is a decrease of 47% from the 22,209 assaults in the previous 12 months. The rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assault per 1,000 prisoners decreased to a similar extent, 45%. In the latest quarter, there were 2,901 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, a 0.5% decrease from 2,915 in the previous quarter.

There were 7,479 assaults on staff^{[footnote 9]} in the 12 months to March 2021 (a rate of 95 per 1,000 prisoners). This is a 24% decrease from the 9,784 in the previous 12 months. The rate of prisoner-on-staff assault per 1,000 prisoners decreased to a lesser extent, by 19%. In the latest quarter, there were 1,778 assaults on staff, a 6% decrease from 1,892 incidents in the previous quarter.

The proportion of assaults on staff increased to 40% of all incidents in the 12 months to March 2021, from 31% in the previous 12 months, having steadily increased from 20% in the 12 months to March 2012.

In male establishments, prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased by 47% to 11,288 incidents (149 incidents per 1,000 male prisoners), and the rate decreased similarly, by 45% in the 12 months to March 2021. Assaults on staff decreased by 24% to 6,959 incidents (92 incidents per 1,000 male prisoners), and the rate decreased by 21% compared to the previous 12 months.

In female establishments, prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased by 50% to 386 incidents (120 incidents per 1,000 female prisoners), and the rate decreased by 42% in the 12 months to March 2021. Assaults on staff decreased by 16% to 520 incidents (161 incidents per 1,000 female prisoners) compared to the previous 12 months, and the rate decreased to a lesser extent, by 2%.

In the 12 months to March 2021, the proportion of assaults that were on staff was higher in female establishments (58%) than in male establishments (39%).

Serious assaults

Of the 18,895 assault incidents, 1,954 (10%) were serious.

In the 12 months to March 2021, there were 1,954 serious assault incidents, a 47% decrease from the previous 12 months. The rate of serious assault decreased to a slightly lesser extent, by 43% (taking account of decreases in population size over the period). Serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased by 54% to 1,289 in the 12 months to March 2021, and serious assaults on staff decreased by 27% to 692.

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: Quarterly 12-month rolling rate of total serious assaults, serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, and serious assaults on staff, 12 months ending March 2011 to 12 months ending March 2021

In the 12 months to March 2021, there were 1,954 serious assaults (a rate of 25 per 1,000 prisoners), a 47% decrease from the previous 12 months. The rate of serious assault decreased to a slightly lesser extent, by 43%. In the latest quarter, there were 499 serious assaults, a 5% increase from the previous quarter. In the latest 12 months, 10% of assaults were serious assaults.

There were 1,289 serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults (a rate of 16 per 1,000 prisoners) in the 12 months to March 2021, a decrease of 54% from the previous 12 months. The rate of serious prisoner-on-prisoner assault decreased to a similar extent, by 52%. In the latest quarter, there were 326 serious prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, a 4% increase from 312 incidents in the previous quarter.

There were 692 serious assaults on staff (a rate of 9 per 1,000 prisoners) in the 12 months to March 2021, a decrease of 27% from the previous 12 months. The rate of serious prisoner-on-staff assault also decreased, by 18%. In the latest quarter, the number of serious prisoner-on-staff assaults decreased by 7% to 177 incidents.

Further information

Covid-19

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been keen public and Parliamentary interest in how the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) are managing the running of prisons and the probation system to limit the spread of the virus while maintaining the core functions of these vital parts of the justice system. The core tenet of HMPPS’s prison strategy, building on Public Health England (PHE) and Public Health Wales (PHW) advice and learning developed in managing an early outbreak of the virus, is the implementation of effective isolation, reverse cohorting of new entrants to custody, and shielding of vulnerable prisoners.

The latest Covid-19 figures are published monthly on the MOJ website via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-prison-and-probation-service-covid-19-statistics-monthly

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 up to 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 UK Statistics Authority’s (UKSA) regulatory arm. The UKSA 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 UKSA promptly. National Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.

Our statisticians regularly review the content of publications. Development of new and improved statistical outputs is usually dependent on reallocating existing resources. As part of our continual review and prioritisation, we welcome user feedback on existing outputs including content, breadth, frequency and methodology. Please send any comments you have on this publication including suggestions for further developments or reductions in content.

Contact

Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office: Tel: 020 3334 3536 Email: newsdesk@justice.gsi.gov.uk

Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to:

David Dawson

Data and Evidence as a Service, Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ

Email: statistics.enquiries@justice.gsi.gov.uk

Next update: October 2021 URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics

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Produced by the Ministry of Justice.

Alternative formats are available on request from statistics.enquiries@justice.gsi.gov.uk

1. Data on deaths is published three months ahead of self-harm and assaults. Therefore, the deaths annual publication and tables are published alongside the Safety in Custody quarterly update to September publication. ↩

2. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly. Latest data for the year to June 2021 is published in Offender Management Statistics Bulletin, England and Wales Quarterly: January to March 2021. ↩

3. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2020 ↩

4. The comparability over the year of other measures that are based on self-harming individuals (such as the number of incidents per self-harming individual, or the proportion of incidents requiring hospital attendance) are not affected by the reduction in population. ↩

5. These are Cookham Wood, Werrington and Wetherby. ↩

6. Assaults are presented based on both methodologies from April 2018 and self-harm incidents are presented based on both methodologies from April 2019. ↩

7. Data on deaths are published three months ahead of assaults and self-harm, therefore, the annual publication Deaths in prison custody for 1978 to 2020 is published in the Safety in Custody quarterly update to September 2020 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/956262/deaths-prison-custody-1978-2021.ods ↩

8. This figure includes any prisoner-on-prisoner assaults where there may also have been an assault on staff. ↩

9. There was a change in how staff assaults have been recorded from April 2017, this has simplified how incidents involving staff are identified, however it is possible this has increased the recording of incidents. Please see the Guide to Safety in Custody statistics for further information ↩