Research and analysis
Rapid evidence assessment of safety in prison
A Rapid Evidence Assessment exploring the impact of specific factors on prison violence and the implications for staff training, staff-prisoner interactions, and prison system management.
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
Violence in prisons – whether between prisoners or against staff – has increased overall since 2015, despite a temporary fall during the Covid-19 period. The complexity of the issue, influenced by multiple interacting factors, has led to some uncertainty over the most appropriate action to address it. The Rapid Evidence Assessment was commissioned to investigate and synthesise evidence.
Updates to this page
Published 3 September 2026