(2) how many incidents of grievous bodily harm have taken place in prisons in each year since 2000;
(3) how many incidents of sexual assault have taken place in prisons in each year since 2000.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not capture data specifically concerning rape in prison. Rather, numbers of all types of sexual assault incidents are recorded and these are provided in Table 2.
NOMS has, for many years, recorded serious assaults using a bespoke definition and does not currently have the ability to capture data using Home Office counting rules definitions, such as grievous bodily harm. NOMS defines a serious assault as any of the following:
It is a sexual assault.
It results in detention in outside hospital as an in-patient.
It requires medical treatment for concussion or internal injuries.
The injury is a fracture, scald or burn, stabbing, crushing, extensive or multiple bruising, black eye, broken nose, lost or broken tooth, cuts requiring suturing, bites or temporary or permanent blindness.
When an assault results in one of these types of injuries it is classified as serious even if the actual damage was superficial.
Numbers of serious assaults recorded by NOMS for the years in question are given in Table 1.
Recorded incidents of serious assault in prisons in England and Wales Proportion of all assaults (percentage) 20001 794 8 20011 796 7 2002 956 8 2003 1,159 10 2004 1,220 10 2005 1,371 10 2006 1,404 9 2007 1,482 10 2008 1,481 9 1Due to improved recording over the years, figures from 1998 to 2001 are not directly comparable with those from later years. Numbers may differ slightly from previously published figures. Note: The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents.
Data on sexual assaults and other incidents in prison are obtained through the National Offender Management Service's Incident Reporting System. Numbers of sexual assault incidents for the years in question are given in Table 2. The figures include proven and unproven allegations and are subject to change because some allegations are removed or reclassified following investigation.
Recorded incidents of sexual assault in prisons in England and Wales 20001 115 20011 101 2002 143 2003 131 2004 144 2005 139 2006 148 2007 135 2008 119 1Due to improved recording over the years, figures from 1998 to 2001 are not directly comparable with those from later years. Numbers may differ slightly from previously published figures. Note: The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents.
Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy. From mid-2007 this policy has been applied to both the public sector and contracted estate. The strategy requires each prison to undertake regular analysis of the problem areas, consider solutions and provide an action plan to improve personal safety and reduce violence. A whole-prison approach is encouraged, engaging all staff, all disciplines and prisoners in challenging unacceptable behaviour, problem-solving and personal safety. This includes environmental and physical measures, as well as alternative ways of managing behaviour.