The annual numbers of recorded self-harm incidents for each of current, single-function young offender institution for each of the last five years is given in table 1.
The National Offender Management Service has a broad, integrated and evidence-based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy that seeks to reduce the distress of all those in prison. This encompasses a wide spectrum of prison and Department of Health work around such issues as mental health, substance misuse and resettlement. Any prisoner identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm is cared for using the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) procedures. ACCT is the prisoner-centred flexible care-planning system introduced across the prisons estate in partnership with the Department of Health during 2005-07
Most self-harm is not directly life threatening, but nevertheless can be extremely distressing for all those concerned. A prisoner-focused care planning system for those at risk, (ACCT), has helped prisons manage self-harm. There are no easy answers to preventing self harming behaviour but we remain committed to finding ways to manage it.
Incidents Prison 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Ashfield 239 172 224 142 106 Aylesbury 83 116 346 265 265 Brinsford 23 73 102 86 87 Castington 89 92 106 68 64 Cookham Wood 163 197 144 216 55 Deerbolt 59 104 131 99 138 Feltham 161 144 126 221 210 Glen Parva 217 232 149 249 231 Hindley 46 156 71 41 81 Huntercombe 73 69 67 86 95 Lancaster Farms 15 92 153 21 5 Northallerton 60 16 35 30 37 Portland 119 110 161 174 80 Reading 39 60 45 38 24 Rochester 58 18 50 47 99 Stoke Heath 250 192 217 227 325 Thorn Cross 3 1 3 4 3 Warren Hill 21 14 18 13 80 Werrington 13 30 24 12 52 Wetherby 60 .67 34 12 34
The information requested on the number of injuries caused by use of restraints is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A Use of Force Report Form is completed by each member of staff involved in its use, to explain the circumstances in which force was used. Establishments are required to examine this information on a regular basis to determine if there any particular problems in relation to use of force or any resulting injuries. To obtain information on the number of injuries sustained during use of restraint would require contacting each young offender establishment and asking them to analyse their forms for every single use of force for the past five years.
The number of assault incidents for each current, single-function young offender institution for each of the last five years is given in table 2.
The information is subject to important qualifications. The NOMS Incident Reporting System processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The numbers provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. Rises or falls in reported numbers from one year to the next are not a good indicator of an underlying trend for a particular prison. Additionally there have been improvements in reporting over the years, and this is reflected in the tables.
Assault data are complex and the numbers need to be interpreted with caution. Information recorded as assault incidents may involve one or many prisoners as some assault incidents may involve more than one assailant or more than one victim. Additionally in a proportion of incidents only the victim is known.
Reducing violence in prisons is a priority for Ministers, NOMS and the Prison Officers Association and they are collectively committed to working towards a zero tolerance approach to prison violence. Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy and since mid 2007 this has been applied to the public and contracted out estate. A whole prison approach is encouraged, engaging all staff, all disciplines and prisoners in challenging unacceptable behaviour, problem-solving and personal safety.
Assault incidents Prison 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Ashfield 395 680 761 753 748 Aylesbury 28 96 100 93 120 Brinsford 360 364 197 204 352 Castington 443 412 406 431 462 Cookham Wood 13 5 5 7 20 Deerbolt 234 199 174 194 222 Feltham 751 698 596 544 648 Glen Parva 273 300 387 422 510 Hindley 78 149 407 548 550 Huntercombe 96 110 217 306 426 Lancaster Farms 213 484 428 397 347 Northallerton 110 118 91 108 106 Portland 166 194 170 234 193 Reading 41 93 72 54 37 Rochester 120 102 113 80 173 Stoke Heath 280 498 578 606 561 Thorn Cross 8 21 148 85 45 Warren Hill 183 291 314 371 383 Werrington 123 160 168 154 228 Wetherby 492 568 465 393 432