The state of Wandsworth Prison is of “serious concern” according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice.

Published yesterday (July 27), the report shows ten prisons including Wandsworth have the lowest possible rating of four- “overall performance is of serious concern”- which is up from six last year.

The news comes nearly two months after HMP Wandsworth, which has the largest prison population in the UK, lost its reform status.

See related: HMP Wandsworth ‘never really had it’: CEO of Howard League for Penal Reform Frances Crook responds to reports of Wandsworth prison losing its reform status

Governors at reform prisons have greater freedoms to control all aspects of prison management, including budgets, education and rehabilitation services.

To address the crisis facing prisons- reoffending, overpopulation, self-harm, rising assaults- David Cameron announced in 2016 that six prisons would be granted reform status.

However, Wandsworth’s reversion has sparked fears the trial will collapse.

Getting worse

Overall the number of assaults in UK prisons rose by 20 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, while serious assaults have nearly trebled in the last four years.

In a 17 per cent rise from the previous year, 40,414 self-inflicted injuries were recorded, while 97 people committed suicide- a fall of ten.

Joining Wandsworth in the lowest rated ranks were Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Brixton, Guys Marsh, Hindley, Liverpool, Pentonville, and Wormwood Scrubs.

UK prison staff have been cut by a third (6,000) since 2010.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said “chronic overcrowding” and “staff shortages” are driving the prison system into “chaos”.

She said: “How many people have to die before action is taken?

“The new Secretary of State for Justice must act now to stop the death toll. The first step to recovery is to recognise that there is a problem.

“The second step is to do something about the problem.”

Newly elected Justice Secretary Lidington said his “top priority” is improving safety and security in prisons.

He said: “These figures reinforce how crucial it is that we make progress as quickly as possible.

“As the Chief Inspector of Prisons rightly observed in his annual report last week, we cannot achieve successful reform and rehabilitation unless our prisons are safe and secure – and this is something I am committed to achieving.

“I have seen first-hand the challenges our dedicated and hardworking prison staff face.

“Boosting the frontline is critical to achieving safety and the number of prison officers we are recruiting is rising, with the number of new prison officers joining the service at its highest level since 2010.”