By Eric King-
Chelmsford Prison is one of the most dangerous and violent jails in the country, according to new figures.
Figures released this week by the Ministry of Justice reveal that 635 attacks were recorded across HMP Chelmsford in 2018 – just eight other jails had higher numbers of assaults.
The number of assaults has reportedly increased by 530 from the previous year and is the highest number recorded since at least 2003, when modern records began. That’s excluding the number of suicides that have occurred in the prison. Influence of a variety of drugs is also rife at Chelmsford Prison, including spice on other high class A drugs Chelmsford prison continues to be a dangerous prison environment for anybody to be jailed.
The level of violence recorded in the jail since 2016 amounts to a total of 414 assaults in 2016, statistics shows. Assaults on staff have also increased by 90% between 2017 and 2018. The grim situation of violence and disorder calls for desperate intervention from the prison service- the British government may need to intervene to ensure the change. Prison is meant to be a place where criminals are sent as part of punishment for breaking the law, they should not become worse when they get there.
The government needs to think out a new strategy to address the growing pattern of violence in prisons, even if it means bringing in the military as guard staff, if it demands such extreme measure.
The rise of 45 per cent follows a 185 per cent increase in serious assaults on staff from seven incidents in 2016 to 20 in 2017. which has introduced a new model to improve closer working with prisoners. Jackie Marshall, of the Prison Officers Association, said jails are still trying to catch up after more than 7,500 officers were made redundant.
She added that the introduction of PAVA – a type of pepper spray – would help bring order back to the country’s prisons.
She said in a statement: “They just keep delaying it. A lot of the incidents we are having wouldn’t occur if we had PAVA.