Violence is rife in overcrowded, unsafe prisons, with offenders nearly 20% more likely to be involved in assaults in too full jails, new research reveals
Violence within England and Wales’ male prisons surged last year, with new government data revealing a sharp rise in assaults as jails struggled under near-total capacity pressure. The findings have prompted a fresh wave of reforms and significant investment to address what ministers now openly acknowledge as a prison capacity crisis.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show that prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in men’s prisons rose by 11 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, while attacks on prison staff jumped by 13 per cent. This escalation in violence has been directly linked for the first time to overcrowding, with men’s prisons operating at over 99 per cent capacity throughout the year.
Officials say the figures underscore the urgency of delivering 14,000 additional prison places by 2031, a core component of the Government’s broader “Plan for Change” strategy. These new places, announced by the Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, last month, are intended to prevent jails from becoming dangerously overfilled and to better protect both staff and inmates.
Speaking on the release of the data, James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said, “These stark findings confirm what we’ve already seen – dangerously full prisons lead to more crime and more violence. This not only risks the safety of our hardworking staff but means our prisons are failing one of their most important functions – cutting crime. We must end this chaos.”
To address the mounting crisis, the Government unveiled today a £40 million investment package aimed at reinforcing prison security. This includes £10 million specifically allocated to anti-drone technologies, such as reinforced windows and external netting, to stop contraband from entering via airborne delivery.
Contraband – especially drugs and mobile phones – has long been a driver of violence and organised criminal activity behind bars. The investment will also go towards other critical infrastructure upgrades, including enhanced CCTV systems, control room refurbishments, biometric security, floodlighting and improved vehicle gates.
A new report commissioned by the Ministry of Justice further highlighted the correlation between prison crowding and rising violence. Over a one-year period, it found that overcrowded conditions increased the likelihood of an inmate being involved in a violent incident by 19 per cent.
Alongside physical upgrades, operational measures are being stepped up to address corruption and smuggling networks. The National Crime Agency (NCA), in collaboration with HM Prisons and Probation Service, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Regional Organised Crime Units, has launched a national crackdown on drone-related contraband operations. As part of this initiative, two senior police officers will be seconded to the Prison and Probation Service’s Corruption and Crime Unit to help dismantle criminal networks and root out internal corruption.
“These reforms and investments are about delivering real change in our prisons,” said Timpson. “Our £40 million new investment will also help combat the flow of contraband which creates unsafe environments in our jails.”
The Government’s security drive builds on previous efforts to better protect prison staff, including the ongoing rollout of protective body armour for officers in high-security settings. A trial of tasers for frontline staff is also set to begin later this summer in selected facilities.
However, ministers have stressed that physical expansion and security alone will not solve the systemic issues facing the prison system. A crucial part of the reform agenda is a radical shift in sentencing and prison release policy. Under the new approach, early release will need to be earned – with prisoners who fail to engage in rehabilitation or who display poor behaviour kept behind bars for longer.
The aim is to reduce not only violence but also reoffending, by creating an environment more conducive to effective rehabilitation. Prison staff, who currently must spend much of their time dealing with conflict and contraband, would instead be able to focus more energy on helping inmates prepare for reintegration into society.
Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, who laid out the initial reforms last month, has argued that the new measures will help ensure prisons never again reach breaking point. The £7 billion funding commitment to build 14,000 new places by 2031 is, she says, “essential to keeping the public safe.”
Opposition parties have cautiously welcomed aspects of the plan but argue that the crisis stems from years of neglect and short-term fixes. Critics warn that addressing long-term rehabilitation requires sustained investment in education, mental health services and post-release support – areas where the prison system has often fallen short.
For now, the Government is banking on its Plan for Change to deliver the dual aims of greater public safety and improved conditions within prisons. With pressure growing on staff and inmates alike, today’s announcement signals a concerted effort to tackle the problems at the root – before they spill further onto the nation’s streets.
