Inmate violence up 50 per cent at London prison Wormwood Scrubs

Wormwood Scrubs recorded a 50 per cent increase in assaults on fellow prisoners or staff
Anthony Devlin/PA
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The number of assaults has risen sharply at a London prison involved in a flagship government violence-reduction project, the Ministry of Justice admitted today.

Wormwood Scrubs recorded a 50 per cent increase in assaults on fellow prisoners or staff between April and June this year, compared with the same period last year.

This came despite the jail’s inclusion in a flagship nationwide “10 prisons project” launched last year, which was intended to significantly reduce violence and drug use.

The former prisons minister Rory Stewart had pledged to resign this month if its target was not met.

Today, however, the new prisons minister Lucy Frazer said she was “encouraged” by the progress that had been made at other jails in the scheme, including Isis prison in south-east London. She admitted violence had risen at Wormwood Scrubs and Nottingham prison.

She said these “were two of the most challenging prisons in the estate, with severe legacy issues”, but added that extra funding for more staff and anti-drug measures had produced benefits elsewhere.

The assault rate at Isis prison halved during the year covered by the project. The Ministry of Justice also said there had been a 50 per cent drop in positive drug tests across the 10 prisons. It said the prisons used X-ray scanners, metal detectors, drug trace detection machines, and toilet traps to collect flushed contraband.

A standards coaching team of officers was also used to help staff.

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