Image copyright PA A record number of inmates have taken their own lives in prisons in England and Wales so far this year, a prison reform charity has said.
The Howard League for Penal Reform said it knew of 102 suicides, the highest since its records began in 1978.
The charity said cuts to staffing and budgets had “created a toxic mix of violence, death and human misery”.
The government has pledged 2,500 extra officers and special measures for vulnerable or mentally ill inmates.
The previous highest toll recorded by the charity was 94 suicides in 2004.
However, the overall prison population has increased by about 10% since then, meaning the suicide rate was actually slightly higher in 2004.
Then, there was approximately one suicide for every 830 prisoners. So far in 2016, there has been one death for roughly every 840 prisoners.
"So desperate"The Howard League released the figures as it published a joint report alongside Centre for Mental Health, another charity.
The r..
Read More
