Decrease in prison staff poses a problem
The East Midlands has seen the highest percentage decrease in frontline prison staff over the last year - this is in the face of some of the highest levels of violence, suicide and self-injury since records began.
Statistics seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform show there were 1,351 frontline officers (full time equivalent) in public sector prisons in the East Midlands in June 2016, down from 1,470 a year earlier. This represents an eight per cent reduction in the number of staff - the highest in the country.