Prison officers are now using pepper spray at least four times a day to control violent inmates, new figures show.The data reveals that officers have been forced to use Pelargonic acid vanillylamide incapacitant (PAVA) spray on 1,379 occasions between January 1 and November 30, 2025, and it was drawn but not used a further 643 instances, for a total of 2,022 in 11 months. In 2024, Pava, a non-lethal pepper spray used by police and prison officers, was used 1,331 times and drawn but not used 600 times, a total of 1,931 times in 12 months. The figures, revealed in a Parliamentary Written Question, also showed that in 2025, it was used 524 times against black inmates; 518 times against white people; and 121 times against Asian prisoners. It was also used against Muslims 550 times and Christians 531 times. As of March 2024, the UK prison population was approximately 97,700. In England and Wales, approximately 72% of the population is white, 12% is black, and 8% is Asian. Some 18% are Muslim, 44% are …