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| Three new prisons get 'of concern' rating | Three new prisons get 'of concern' rating |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The performance of the three prisons in England and Wales that opened under the coalition government is "of concern", according to the Ministry of Justice. | The performance of the three prisons in England and Wales that opened under the coalition government is "of concern", according to the Ministry of Justice. |
| Its annual ratings show Oakwood in the West Midlands and Thameside and Isis, both in south London, have been graded in the third category out of four. | Its annual ratings show Oakwood in the West Midlands and Thameside and Isis, both in south London, have been graded in the third category out of four. |
| They are among 28 jails - out of 126 - rated as "of concern" to officials. | They are among 28 jails - out of 126 - rated as "of concern" to officials. |
| Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said prisons "are still running safe and decent regimes". | Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said prisons "are still running safe and decent regimes". |
| Oakwood and Thameside both opened in spring 2012 and are privately operated. | Oakwood and Thameside both opened in spring 2012 and are privately operated. |
| Isis, a publicly-run jail for adults and young offenders in south London, opened in July 2010. | Isis, a publicly-run jail for adults and young offenders in south London, opened in July 2010. |
| The Prison Rating System (PRS) rates performance in four categories: public protection, reducing reoffending, decency and resource management and operational effectiveness. | The Prison Rating System (PRS) rates performance in four categories: public protection, reducing reoffending, decency and resource management and operational effectiveness. |
| Overall performance is graded into one of four bands. | Overall performance is graded into one of four bands. |
| These bands are - 4: exceptional performance, 3: meeting majority of targets, 2: overall performance is of concern, and 1: overall performance is of serious concern. | These bands are - 4: exceptional performance, 3: meeting majority of targets, 2: overall performance is of concern, and 1: overall performance is of serious concern. |
| Only one jail, Brinsford Young Offenders Institution in Wolverhampton, is ranked in the lowest category. | Only one jail, Brinsford Young Offenders Institution in Wolverhampton, is ranked in the lowest category. |
| Separate figures show the number of prisoners who died in custody in 2013-14 was 225 - up from 181 in the previous year and higher than in any of the previous nine years. | Separate figures show the number of prisoners who died in custody in 2013-14 was 225 - up from 181 in the previous year and higher than in any of the previous nine years. |
| The figures in the report only go back to 2004-05, but the next-highest figure in that period was 211 in 2011-12. | The figures in the report only go back to 2004-05, but the next-highest figure in that period was 211 in 2011-12. |
| Of the 2013-14 deaths, 88 were recorded as self-inflicted, 127 were from natural causes, three were homicides and seven were listed as "other". | Of the 2013-14 deaths, 88 were recorded as self-inflicted, 127 were from natural causes, three were homicides and seven were listed as "other". |
| Speaking about the number of deaths, justice minister Andrew Selous said the government was "working hard to understand the reasons for the recent increase". | Speaking about the number of deaths, justice minister Andrew Selous said the government was "working hard to understand the reasons for the recent increase". |
| "But this is a complex issue and there is no simple explanation, with the prison population containing a high proportion of very vulnerable individuals," he said. | "But this is a complex issue and there is no simple explanation, with the prison population containing a high proportion of very vulnerable individuals," he said. |
| Attacks on staff | Attacks on staff |
| The figures also show the number of assaults by prisoners on staff in jails in England and Wales has risen to its highest level for seven years, with almost 10 incidents every day. | The figures also show the number of assaults by prisoners on staff in jails in England and Wales has risen to its highest level for seven years, with almost 10 incidents every day. |
| There were also a record number of "serious" assaults - involving inmates and by prisoners on staff. | There were also a record number of "serious" assaults - involving inmates and by prisoners on staff. |
| In the 12 months to the end of March 2014, there were 3,363 incidents in which prisoners attacked staff - up from 2,964 the year before. | In the 12 months to the end of March 2014, there were 3,363 incidents in which prisoners attacked staff - up from 2,964 the year before. |
| There were 370 incidents involving serious assaults on staff, an increase of 101. The overall number of serious assaults was 1,699. | There were 370 incidents involving serious assaults on staff, an increase of 101. The overall number of serious assaults was 1,699. |
| Both figures for serious assaults are unsurpassed, according to Ministry of Justice data going back to 2004-05. | Both figures for serious assaults are unsurpassed, according to Ministry of Justice data going back to 2004-05. |
| The justice secretary said: "The increase in assaults is of concern. I do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and every assault is treated extremely seriously. | The justice secretary said: "The increase in assaults is of concern. I do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and every assault is treated extremely seriously. |
| "We have always had a complex and challenging prison population but we are now managing a more violent population - and we are taking steps to manage the increased levels of violence." | "We have always had a complex and challenging prison population but we are now managing a more violent population - and we are taking steps to manage the increased levels of violence." |
| Other statistics found 225 inmates escaped or absconded from prisons in England and Wales in the last year. | Other statistics found 225 inmates escaped or absconded from prisons in England and Wales in the last year. |
| This is an increase of 21 compared with the previous year and included 137 from open prisons. | This is an increase of 21 compared with the previous year and included 137 from open prisons. |
| Tighter criteria | Tighter criteria |
| It is still the third lowest number of abscondments since records were kept - and is down by more than 1,000 on the figure a decade ago. | It is still the third lowest number of abscondments since records were kept - and is down by more than 1,000 on the figure a decade ago. |
| Recent incidents include the case of Michael Wheatley, 55, known as the "Skull Cracker" who was jailed for life for carrying out an armed robbery while being on the run in May from an open prison in Kent. | Recent incidents include the case of Michael Wheatley, 55, known as the "Skull Cracker" who was jailed for life for carrying out an armed robbery while being on the run in May from an open prison in Kent. |
| Mr Grayling said: "Open prisons remain a key part of our prison estate - being able to prepare long-term offenders before they are released is crucial. | Mr Grayling said: "Open prisons remain a key part of our prison estate - being able to prepare long-term offenders before they are released is crucial. |
| "But it is important that the public are confident in the security of the open estate, which is why I ordered an immediate and a robust review and as a result have tightened the eligibility criteria. | "But it is important that the public are confident in the security of the open estate, which is why I ordered an immediate and a robust review and as a result have tightened the eligibility criteria. |
| "Absconds have seen a slight increase this year but are still more than 80% lower than they were a decade ago, and temporary release failures remain below 1%." | "Absconds have seen a slight increase this year but are still more than 80% lower than they were a decade ago, and temporary release failures remain below 1%." |
| Are you a prison officer or former prisoner with experience of the issues in this story? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Prison performance'. |