Revealed: almost 1,000 rapes in prisons in England and Wales since 2010

Police data underlines fears for the safety of inmates and staff amid overcrowding and budget cuts as a result of Tory austerity

Nearly 1,000 rapes were reported to have taken place in prisons since 2010, exclusive data obtained by the Observer from police forces in England and Wales can reveal.

A further 2,336 sexual assaults were reported to police in the same period, and experts warned that the true figure for both crimes may be far higher because not all attacks would be reported.