Increase in prison knife attacks

The number of prison inmates has risen steadily over the last few years

The number of knife attacks among prison inmates has almost doubled over a period of seven years, according to government figures.

There were 208 assaults that involved a knife or blade in English and Welsh prisons in 2007.

This represents a rise from 112 incidents recorded in 2000.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said an increase in the earlier part of the period was "most likely to do with changes in the reporting system".

The number of violent incidents among adult prisoners, involving offensive weapons including knives, hot liquid, thrown furniture and blunt instruments, increased from 315 to 491 over seven years.

The figure for the same type of incidents in young offenders institutions increased from 159 to 288 over the same period.

The figures were given by Mr Straw in a written parliamentary answer to a question by shadow Justice Minister Edward Garnier.

In his answer, he also said it was not possible to determine whether the rising number of assaults were partly due to the rise in prison population, increased reporting or better data processing.

Mr Straw said: "The increase during the earlier part of the period is most likely to do with changes in the reporting system.

"Additionally, a violence reduction strategy - dating from 2004 and revised in 2007 - has further encouraged better recording. In the majority of assault incidents there is no recorded use of weapon."

The total number of people in prison stood at 80,689 in 2007, up from 65,194 in 2000.