Inmate assaults in young offenders institutes double

Statistics show there were 5,734 assaults involving juveniles in YOIs in 2008 compared to 2,807 assaults in 2002, an increase of 104 per cent.

The highest number came at Ashfield YOI, run by private contractors Serco, which had 608 assaults in 2008 compared to 429 in 2002, an increase of 42 per cent.

Assaults by young offenders on prison staff also increased during the period but at a slower rate.

In 2008 there were 696 assaults on staff compared to 509 in 2002 - an increase of 37 per cent.

A Prison Service spokesman said there have been improvements to recording during the period meaning annual numbers for early years are not comparable with later years.

"Reducing violence in prisons is a priority for Ministers, the National Offender Management Service and the Prison Officers Association and we are collectively committed to working towards a zero tolerance approach to prison violence," the spokesman said.

"Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy and since mid 2007 this has been applied to the public and contracted out estate.

"Assaults in custody range from relatively minor ones where no injuries are sustained to very serious ones where criminal charges follow."