Violence, Drug Use And Safety In Prisons

EDM number 454 in 2016-17, proposed by Liz Saville Roberts on 14/09/2016.
Categorised under the topics of Crimes of violence, Drugs misuse, Employment and Prisons.

That this House is concerned by the ongoing crisis in the prison system in England and Wales; notes remarks by the new Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clark, who said that prisons have become increasingly violent and dangerous places; further notes that the latest Safety in custody statistics confirm that prison staff are required to work in conditions where the levels of violence are continuing to increase; notes that since 2010 assaults in prisons have increased by 48.8 per cent with staff assaults increasing by 39.5 per cent in the last 12 months; is alarmed that recent figures show that the number of prison officers has fallen by 425 in the last 12 months, yet over 60 per cent of prison establishments are currently overcrowded with almost 10,000 additional inmates compared to what the estate is designed to hold; is further concerned that the safety of inmates and staff is under increasing threat; welcomes the latest report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and his calls for an urgent national strategy to deal with violence, drug use and safety in prison; and calls on the Government to begin an immediate programme of prison officer recruitment and training to ensure the safety of all within the prison system.

This motion has been signed by a total of 6 MPs.