A record number of prisoners were released in error last year, as violence and self-harm rose in increasingly overcrowded prisons, new statistics reveal.
In the 12 months to March 2024, 87 prisoners were released by mistake – 23% more in England and Wales than the previous year – making it the highest number ever recorded, according to Ministry of Justice figures.
Prisoners are released in error in a number of ways, including misplaced warrants for imprisonment or remand, recall notices not acted upon, sentence miscalculation or discharging the wrong person on escort.
Seventy of the 87 released by mistake were errors made by prisons while 17 were released in error by courts.
The newly released statistics also revealed an increase in the number of prison escapes, with 12 people escaping in the year to March 2024.
One prisoner remained at large 30 days after escaping.
The escape of former soldier Daniel Khalife, awaiting trial on terrorism charges, from Wandsworth Prison under a food delivery lorry captured the attention of the nation last September as police asked for the public’s help to find him.
The year before, eight prisoners escaped but none were at large for 30 days or more.
Daniel Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison last year
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There was a 2% increase in the prison population this year, with 87,726 people in prison on 30 June 2024.
That was about 4,700 higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Overcrowding in prisons also increased for the third year in a row, with 23.6% of prisoners held in crowded accommodation compared with 22.9% in the previous 12-month period.
In overcrowded prisons, 99.7% of prisoners – 20,470 – were held in double cells.
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The government has approved legislation to release some prisoners – not the most serious offenders – from prison on licence after serving 40% of their sentence, instead of the current 50%, to alleviate overcrowding.
The number of assaults in prison increased by nearly 30%, with 28,292 violent assaults in a year.
There was an increase in prisons given the lowest “serious concern” rating, from nine the year before to 15 up until March – out of a total 123 prisons in England and Wales.
Thirteen prisons – the same number as last year – were rated outstanding, while 35 were “of concern”, the second lowest, and 56 were rated “good”.
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Why are prisons overcrowded?
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood KC, said: “Our prisons are in crisis, leading to endemic violence and harm behind bars.
“These statistics reveal what is really happening inside jails today, and why we had no choice but to act.
“This government will always protect the public, lock up dangerous offenders, and make prisons safe for prisoners and the brave staff who work there.”
The finding of drugs, mobile phones and weapons increased in prisons but alcohol decreased.
There were:
• 21,145 drug finds (44% increase)
• 10,669 mobile phones seizures (35% increase)
• 11,641 weapons discoveries (24% increase)
• 9,136 alcohol finds (4% decrease).
New Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood during a visit to HMP Bedford. Pic: PA
Self-harm incidents in prisons hit a record high of 73,804 – a rate of one prisoner hurting themselves every seven minutes.
Female prisons were the worst for self-harm incidents, with 66.7% (eight) attaining the worst or second worst rating in that category.
They were also the poorest performing prisons for assaults on staff, with 75% (nine) failing to meet their targets.
All reception prisons failed to meet their prisoner-on-prisoner assault targets.