VIOLENT assaults in the region’s prisons have increased by almost two-thirds in a decade, new figures show.

Official statistics reveal there were 1,298 recorded assaults in prisons and young offenders’ institutions in the North-East and North Yorkshire last year – compared to 792 in 2000.

Violent incidents at Frankland Prison, near Durham City, increased more than 200 per cent over the ten years from 19 to 64.

Violence has continued to be an issue at the prison this year. Last month, a prisoner was left with life-threatening injuries after he was slashed across his face and body. In March, three prison officers were hospitalised after another attack involving an inmate.

Soham murderer Ian Huntley and Peter Chapman, who killed Darlington teenager Ashleigh Hall, have also been attacked in the prison.

Holme House Prison, in Stockton, has also seen a big rise in violent incidents from 58 in 2000 to 130 last year.

Of the ten prisons in the region, only Northallerton Young Offenders’ Institution has seen a fall in incidents of violence.

The figures include assaults on staff which increased from 141 ten years ago to 189 in 2009.

The report was published yesterday by pressure group The Howard League for Penal Reform.

Across England and Wales, there were 15,180 acts of violence in prisons – more than 40 a day.

The average prison population rose by 29 per cent during the same period.

Frances Cook, director of the Howard League, said: “Overcrowded, squalid prison conditions lead to rioting, violence and chaos, which is dangerous for prisoners, staff and local communities.

“Often people leave prison more damaged and dangerous than when they first went in having spent time in our colleges of crime.”

Ms Cook said the figures highlighted the need for a wholesale reform of the penal system.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said measuring violence in prisons was imprecise.

She added: “The National Offender Management Service is undertaking a wideranging review of its violence reduction strategy, including procedures for identifying and managing violent prisoners, performance measures for assault reporting by prisons, and prosecutions through the courts of violent prisoners.”