Assaults, self-harm and self-inflicted deaths all went down when government took steps to reduce prison population 

Assaults, self-harm rates and self-inflicted deaths all went down in a year when the government took steps to reduce the prison population, official data seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (Thursday 30 July).

A statistical bulletin, published by the Ministry of Justice, shows that 359 people in prison died in the 12 months to the end of June 2026. They included 71 people who died in circumstances recorded as “self-inflicted”.

Prisons recorded 70,632 incidents of self-harm in the 12 months to the end of March 2026, at a rate of one every seven minutes. The rate of self-harm fell by 11% in men’s prisons and fell by 4.5% in women’s prisons.

Over the same period, prisons recorded 30,820 assaults – a 0.5% drop in the rate overall – with the rate going down in prisons holding men but up in prisons holding women.

Although most of the statistics show improvement, prisons recorded eight homicides in the 12 months to the end of June 2026 – the highest number since current recording practices began.

The prison population decreased by 1% between March 2025 and March 2026. This compares with no change in the year 2024-25 and a 4% increase during 2023-24.

Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “While these numbers remain far too high, it is encouraging to see that the rates of assaults and self-harm have come down, with fewer people losing their lives in circumstances recorded as self-inflicted.

“Significantly, we saw these changes in a year when measures were taken to ease pressure on the prison system by reducing the number of people in custody. It shows that addressing overcrowding can help to protect staff and save lives, as well as providing more opportunities for people to learn skills and move on from crime.

“A new ministerial team now has the chance to build on this progress and take further steps to make people living and working in prison safer.

“Ministry of Justice projections indicate that the prison population will rise in the years to come, but politicians have the power to change this. Imagine what could be achieved if the billions earmarked for new prisons were invested in housing, education and social care instead.”

Notes to editors

1. The Howard League for Penal Reform is the oldest penal reform charity in the world. It is a national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
2. The Howard League and another charity, Centre for Mental Health, worked together on a joint programme on preventing people losing their lives through suicide in prison. Further information about the programme can be found on the Howard League website at: https://howardleague.org/our-work/transform-prisons/preventing-deaths-in-prison/inquiry-into-preventing-prison-suicides/
3. The Ministry of Justice statistical bulletin, Safety in Custody Statistics, England and Wales: Deaths in Prison Custody to June 2026 Assaults and Self-harm to March 2026, can be accessed online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-march-2026/safety-in-custody-statistics-england-and-wales-deaths-in-prison-custody-to-june-2026-assaults-and-self-harm-to-march-2026

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