Major Increase in Assaults and Prison Officers and Overall Violence in our Prisons

63% increase in injuries to staff as they try to control the violence…

Speaking at the Prison Officers Annual Delegate Conference in Galway today, Karl Dalton, General Secretary said, “The increase in overall violence in our prisons from 2021 to 2022 is of deep concern to all prison officers. (Figures to follow provided by Irish Prison Service)”

“Of major concern is an increase in assaults on prison officers over the period (21-22) from 91 to 134 – an increase of some  46%.  Some of these assaults have been extremely serious and will have a lasting impact on those who were injured and their families. All workers should be able attend the workplace with a reasonable expectation of not being threatened and/or assaulted, and this is not the case for many of our members in 2023”

“Despite the best efforts of prison officers on the ground, prison on prisoner assaults have increased dramatically from 249 to 380 over the period (21-22), an increase of some 52% . And this increase in prisoner violence has led to an increase the control and restraint related injuries of prison officers as they try curtail the violence.  Injuries to staff have increased from 61 to 100 in the same period, an increase of some 63%, as they try to control the violence”

Dalton continued, “These statistics speak for themselves, and unless the overcrowding and recruitment issues are resolved these levels of violence will increase in all areas – and inevitably lead serious injury and further fatalities. I ask the Minister here today not to accept the glossing over of the seriousness of the situation from any quarter, and address the most serious and high risk issues which now exist in our prisons. We are primarily concerned for our members, but we also want to ensure, as best possible, that prisoners who are placed under our care are safe in a secure environment”