Inmates and staff at Portland Prison are at risk of assault and self-harm, new figures have revealed.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice Annual Service Digest showed that self-harm incidents requiring hospital attendance more than doubled from 90 in 2013 to 188 last year.

Assaults on prison staff also more than doubled with 105 incidents in 2017, up from 40 in 2013. There were 303 serious prisoner on prisoner assaults in 2017, up 35 per cent in 2013 when 194 incidents were recorded.

It comes after a report, released on Friday by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) raised serious concerns over the management and running of HMP/YOI Portland, a Category C facility which accommodates 500 male adult and young offenders aged 18 and over.

Richard Burgon MP, the shadow justice secretary said the figures revealed a ‘new low point in this government’s mismanagement of our prisons system.’

He added: “If the government is serious about tackling this crisis then it needs to outline an emergency plan and new funds to make our prisons safe.”

Peter Clarke, HMIC’s Chief Inspector of Prisons said that inmates on Portland and elsewhere were enduring some of the “most disturbing conditions ever seen” as authorities fail to take action to curb soaring levels of violence and self-harm.

He added that there were constant “repeated patterns of failure” had led to a point where staff had to injure to conditions that have “no place in an advanced nation in the 21st century”.

In response, a spokesman for the Prison Service, said: “We recently announced £30m in prison security, which builds on our investment in body scanners, improved searching techniques and phone-blocking technology.

“All of this is essential in ensuring prisons are places of rehabilitation, ultimately reducing reoffending and protecting the public.

“We have been clear that assaults on our hardworking staff will never be tolerated and will always push for the strongest punishment and are changing the law so that offenders who attack prison officers face even longer behind bars.”

“The cycle of violence is fuelled by illicit substances, which is why we are employing new tactics and new technology to combat organised crime in our prisons – in turn removing one of the major factors driving assaults and disorder.”

If you are struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, call the following helplines:

Samaritans 116 123

Papyrus (for those aged under 35) 0800 068 41 41

Childline (for children and young people under 19) 0800 1111

The Silver Line (for older people) 0800 4 70 80 90