United Kingdom: prison fires in England and Wales at record high

Prison fires in England and Wales have reached record levels, according to official figures.

There were 2,580 incidents last year, the equivalent of 50 blazes every week - double that of two years previously.

The total includes accidental and deliberate fires. The Ministry of Justice said most were “relatively minor”.

Thameside Prison in London recorded the most fires last year - 101.

The Ministry of Justice figures emerged after a Commons question from Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron.

Birmingham riots¶

HMP Birmingham, the scene of a riot involving hundreds of inmates last December, recorded 82 fires, followed by Nottingham’s 78, Doncaster’s 75 and 73 in Sheppey and Swaleside.

Ten prisons recorded one fire incident during the year, including Thorn Cross in Cheshire, Huntercombe in Oxfordshire and Full Sutton in Yorkshire.

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