Six inmates die in Britain’s prisons EVERY week as violence soars

SIX inmates die in Britain’s prisons every week, Ministry of Justice figures show.

The numbers have risen by 38 per cent in two years.

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The 324 deaths in the year to September include 107 suicides.

Campaigners blame a “toxic mix of violence and human misery”.

Legal highs were linked to at least 58 deaths.

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Assaults by inmates on each other and staff are also rising, with 22,195 in jails across Eng­land and Wales in the 12 months to last March.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “We have a prisons crisis rapidly spiralling out of control and a Secretary of State who is out of her depth.

“The government needs to get a grip.

“This is what happens when the Tories cut prison staff numbers.

“They cannot call themselves the party of law and order any more.”

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A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The Justice Secretary has been clear that the levels of violence and self-harm in our prisons are too high and the consequences are devastating.

“As part of our reforms, we are putting 2,500 extra officers on the front line and introducing new measures to crack down on the drugs, drones and mobile phones which undermine safety in our prisons.”

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An inmate who was stabbed to death in HMP Pentonville last month was a 21-year-old who had recently become a father.

Jamal Mahmoud, was attacked with a “hunting-style knife”.

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Two prisoners, aged 34 and 26, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.