A former prison officer has described facing extreme violence in overcrowded Yorkshire prisons, leading to assaults on staff and inmate fights.
Overcrowding has become more severe as the prison population increased by 8% to over 88,000. With sometimes only one officer for 30 inmates, incidents of violence and self-harm have surged.
In response, the Prison Service is investing £100 million in security and staff recruitment, with measures including X-ray scanners and body cameras.
The Justice Secretary has also introduced early release on probation for some offenders to alleviate overcrowding. The Chief Inspector of Prisons has expressed concern that overcrowding hampers rehabilitation and could lead to more crime.