Prisons: Sexual Offences

(asked on 20th May 2019) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many sexual assaults have been committed in prison in each year since 2010.


Answered by
Robert Buckland Portrait
Robert Buckland
This question was answered on 23rd May 2019

The Government publishes quarterly statistics on assaults in prison, and a more detailed annual breakdown, and both are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-december-2018.

Details of sexual assaults can be found in Assaults in prison custody 2000 to 2018 at table 3.9.

The Government is taking unprecedented action to improve safety in prisons. We have recruited over 4,700 more prison officers since October 2016, and we now have the greatest number in post since early 2012. The Challenge, Support and Intervention Plan case management process for prisoners at risk of violence has been mandated for all prisons to help staff to manage violent prisoners and those identified as posing a raised risk of being violent.

We are committed to reducing violence in prison and we encourage prisoners to report assaults, so that we can take action against perpetrators and support victims. The most important support that we can provide is to ensure that all allegations are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, and that appropriate action is taken if they are proven. Other support can include: ensuring that there is no contact between alleged perpetrator and victim; increased supervision of the person who reported the assault, to build their sense of security and confidence; and referral to other forms of help such as peer supporters, health staff, and specialist external services.

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