LABOUR was urged to prioritise funding community services over punishment today after it emerged that self-harm incidents in prisons have soared to a record high.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), 399 people died in prison in the 12 months until March 2025.

It marks a 37 per cent increase compared to the year prior, and the highest since records began in 2004.

The rate of self-harm climbed by 10 per cent in the 12 months to December 2024, when a shocking 910 incidents were recorded per 1,000 prisoners.

Almost a quarter occurred within the first 30 days of imprisonment.

Deborah Coles, director at Inquest charity, said: “As a society we must put an end to locking people up to die. 

“Recommendations from coroners, prison inspection and monitoring boards are routinely ignored, and preventable deaths reoccur.

“With prisons at capacity, we must face the reality that we, bereaved families, and government have long known: prison is not the answer to addressing harm.

“Collectively we must demand the government address the root causes of harm by diverting investment from prisons and punishment to community services.“

The number of assaults on staff in adult prisons in England and Wales per year has also soared, reaching its highest level in a decade.

Prison Officers’ Association national chairman Mark Fairhurst said the “truly appalling” figures “demonstrate the gravity of the situation brave prison officers face on a daily basis.”

“We need to take back control of our violent and chaotic prisons and ensure staff safety is paramount,” he said.

An MoJ spokesman said it would do “whatever we can to protect our hard-working staff” but acknowledged that a “fundamental change is needed.”