Peterborough prison has highest self-harm rate in England and Wales

PETERBOROUGH prison has the highest self-harm rate in England and Wales, figures have revealed.

Twenty-four self-harm incidents were recorded every week at the prison last year.

Ministry of Justice statistics show there were 1,256 incidents during 2012, 382 more incidents than Foston Hall, which was second on the list.

The total number for England and Wales was 23,158, down six per cent on the figure for 2011.

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “Peterborough prison holds both men and women and self-injury is a problem found across the board.

“There is no doubt, however, that while women represent just one in 20 people in prison, they make up half of all self-harm incidents in custody.

“Large prisons designed to dish out punishments to men are no place for vulnerable women, who find themselves without the support they need to stay out of harm’s way.

“These women need proper care to address their troubles and it’s clear that Peterborough prison and the private security firm paid to run it are failing woefully to provide this support.

“This only makes matters worse for prisoners trying to change their lives, as well as the public at large.”