UK has the highest prison population in the EU

UK locks up more than any other EU country, according to a report.

Only non EU member, Turkey had more prison inmates, with 192,627.

The prison population has come under sharp focus in recent years as jails have been hit by surging levels of violence, self-harm and major disturbances. Penal reform groups have repeatedly highlighted overcrowding as a factor in declining standards behind bars.

A recent Ministry of Justice report confirmed what Annual Reports from successive Chief Inspector of Prisons reports have warned that Britain's prisons are unsafe. In 28 prison inspections reports to 2017, of 1,824 recommendations from HMIP only 660 (34%) had been achieved.

Self harm and assaults on prisoners and staff have reached a record high and in many cases spiralling out of control. With too few staff, many of whom are inexperienced, the prison system is in meltdown.

Lead researcher Professor Marcelo Aebi, from the University of Lausanne, said: "Among Western European countries, England and Wales have had the highest prison population rate almost systematically since I took care of Space in 2002."

The combined total of 94,291 was the highest for all of the EU member states, and compared with 68,514 in France, 64,397 in Germany, 54,195 in Italy and 60,687 in Spain.
England and Wales had a prison population rate of 146.4 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants, which was higher than the Europe-wide average of 127.2.
England and Wales had one of the highest numbers of prisoners serving life, with 7,361, according to the study which is known as Space.

The Report showed that in a snapshot of figures from over 40 countries for 2016, 94,291 individuals were in jail or immigration detention in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The study said there were 85,134 inmates and detainees in England and Wales at the end of June 2016, while Northern Ireland and Scotland had 1,500 and 7,657 respectively in September of that year.
The number of prisoners in England and Wales almost doubled between 1993 and 2016, and has remained around the mid-80,000 mark in recent years.

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