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Inmates at Belmarsh Prison, a high-security facility in Thamesmead known for housing some of the most dangerous and high-profile criminals in the UK, committed hundreds of assaults on staff and fellow prisoners over the past year, according to new figures from the Ministry of Justice. The data reveals a disturbing rise in violence within the Category A men’s prison, reflecting a broader trend of increasing unrest across the UK’s prison system.

The latest statistics show that 290 assaults were recorded at Belmarsh in the year leading up to March 2024, a significant increase from the 239 assaults reported the previous year. Of these incidents, 100 were assaults on staff, while 189 were prisoner-on-prisoner attacks. The total number of assaults may be even higher due to overlapping incidents involving staff, prisoners, or visitors.

This spike in violence at Belmarsh is part of a wider national issue, with the number of assaults in prisons across England and Wales reaching a post-pandemic high of 28,292 over the past year. This represents an alarming 27% rise from the previous year, sparking serious concerns among prison reform advocates.

The Prison Reform Trust has condemned the rise in violence, calling it a “shameful reflection of just how far safety in our prisons has fallen.” The organization is urging the government to take immediate action to restore safety and stability within the prison system.

In addition to the increase in violence, the Ministry of Justice also reported a troubling rise in self-harm incidents within prisons. Nationally, self-harm rates have reached their highest level since records began, with 73,804 incidents in the past year—equating to one prisoner self-harming every seven minutes. At Belmarsh, the number of self-harm incidents rose from 337 in the previous year to 352.

Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, expressed deep concern over these figures, stating, “Much of the focus of policy has been on the crisis of prison capacity, with the number of available cells at the foremost of people’s minds. These figures remind us that there is a crisis of human misery behind bars too. Exposing people to environments of rising violence and mental distress will do nothing to turn their lives around and away from crime.

The alarming statistics come amid deteriorating conditions within the UK’s prison system. Of the 119 adult prisons in England and Wales, 35 have been rated as being of “concern,” including Belmarsh, and 15 have been rated as being of “serious concern.” The number of prisons in the latter category has increased by six since last year, further highlighting the growing challenges facing the nation’s penal institutions.

As the situation continues to worsen, pressure is mounting on the government to address the underlying issues contributing to the rise in violence and self-harm within prisons. Advocates are calling for comprehensive reforms to improve safety, mental health support, and overall conditions for inmates and staff alike.