Context
Self-harm rates in prisons are at record highs, particularly among women. In women’s prisons, the rate is eight times higher than in men’s prisons, with one in three female prisoners self-harming.
Question
Self-harm in prisons is now at the highest rate ever recorded. In women’s prisons, the rates are eight times higher than in men’s prisons—shockingly, one in three female prisoners has self-harmed. Does my hon. Friend share my deep concern about those figures, and what is the Department doing to tackle that issue effectively?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Sir Nicholas Dakin)
I certainly share my hon. Friend’s deep concern about that issue, which she is right to raise. Good relationships between staff and prisoners are essential in our efforts to identify and manage the risks of suicide and self-harm. We are providing specialist support to establishments rolling out tailored investments, including specialised training for new officers, recruiting psychologists to support women, and piloting a compassion-focused therapy group designed for women.
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