Prison suicides at record levels in England and Wales

Ministry of Justice report shows rise in number of prisoners killing themselves, with assaults and self-harm also up

Prison
(Image credit: Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

New figures released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal 119 people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016, an increase of 29 on the previous year.

It was the highest number since records began in 1978, said the MoJ, which also reported a record 37,784 incidents of self-harm and 25,049 of assault.Justice Secretary Liz Truss said the numbers were "very worrying", adding: "Since becoming Justice Secretary, I have been clear that the violence, self-harm and deaths in our prisons are too high.

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