200 assaults on prison staff in West Midlands

During 2013, a total of 255 assaults on prison staff at Brinsford, Featherstone, Oakwood and Stoke Heath prisons were recorded – more than double the figures from the previous year.

The figures, obtained by the Shropshire Star via a Freedom of Information Act, show that 19 of the attacks were serious assaults that could include anything from a black eye to permanent blindness.

The information, released by the Ministry of Justice showed that the highest number of attacks happened at HMP Prison Oakwood in Staffordshire, which serves Shropshire. It had a total of eight serious assaults, and 129 non-serious attacks.

The lowest scoring institution was HMP Prison Featherstone, alongside the M54 near Wolverhampton, which saw just one serious incident and 15 non-serious.

HMP Prison Stoke Heath near Market Drayton had a total of 21 attacks, four of which were serious while Brinsford in Wolverhampton scored second highest with six serious assaults and 75 non-serious.

The figures also showed that figures had sharply risen from the previous year when a total of 95 assaults happened across the prisons.

HMP Oakwood only opened in April 2012, which left the prison with the most assaults as HMP Brinsford with 55 – including five serious attacks.

The data also showed that of the four prisons, only HMP Brinsford and Stoke Heath have experienced self inflicted deaths during the period of 2009-13.

The Market Drayton based jail saw three deaths by hanging, while the Wolverhampton based prison saw two prisoners end their lives in the same way.

Olu Adedeji, of the Ministry of Justice said: "The National Offender Management Service take assaults on prison staff, prisoners and visitors to prison extremely seriously and we do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison custody.

"Prisons have systems in place to protect and support victims of assault. We do not underestimate the hard work and challenges that our staff face on a daily basis and are continuously looking at new ways to offer support.

"This includes making the most of the latest technology, such as the introduction of body worn cameras.

"We are also working closely with the police and CPS to develop a new joint protocol to report crimes in prison - this includes pushing for prosecutions when our staffs are attacked."

Mr Adedeji said the term "self-inflicted death" is used to describe any death of a person who has apparently taken his or her own life irrespective of intent. This not only includes suicides but also accidental deaths as a result of the person's own actions.

He added: "This classification is used because it is not always known whether a person intended to commit suicide. Likewise, attempted suicides are included in recorded self-harm incidents as it cannot always be determined if there was intent to commit suicide.

"All prisons have procedures to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves.

"Prisoners at risk are subject to individual case management and receive support from prison staff, supplemented, where appropriate, by input from mental health services and a range of other sources such as peer supporters and the Samaritans."

Data for 2014 was not available but is due for publication in April.