Recurring concern
Insufficient resourcing of prison self-harm prevention functions
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Request correctionFirst reported 20 Sep 2016•Latest report 20 May 2026
What this concern includes
Includes staffing, resource and capacity deficiencies in prison functions specifically responsible for preventing or managing prisoner self-harm, including Safer Custody and officer resources for self-harm prevention duties, where the deficiency limits the function's ability to identify risk and provide protective action.
Not included
- Excludes general prison staffing or regime-capacity deficiencies that are not specifically tied to prisoner self-harm prevention functions.
- Excludes failures in ACCT, observation, risk assessment, training or information sharing where resourcing of the self-harm prevention function is not the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes healthcare staffing shortages unless they directly concern a prison self-harm prevention function.
- Excludes individual self-harm incidents or outcomes without an identified continuing resourcing or capacity deficiency.
- Reports
- 3
- Individual concerns
- 3
- Date range
- 2016–2026
- Stated actions
- 3
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to maintain an appropriately staffed and resourced Safer Custody function
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Complete and ringfence the Safer Custody Safety team to maintain consistent visibility and support for vulnerable prisoners.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Lowdham Grange Prison
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient operational prison staffing for safe custody and officer safety
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient resourcing for officers’ duties to keep prisoners safe from self-harm
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Consider increasing Glen Parva’s benchmark operating level by 12 prison officers through the submitted business case.
Stated by Glen Parva Young Offender Institution and Ministry of Justice -
Action
Employ over 400 additional prison officers in ten particularly challenging prisons by March 2017 to provide dedicated regular one-to-one support.
Stated by Glen Parva Young Offender Institution and Ministry of Justice
Data last updated 7 September 2026