While Britain's attention turned to AI safety debates in Delhi and weather warnings, a different kind of crisis was unfolding behind bars. In Hull prison, violent incidents nearly doubled in 2024, jumping from 15 to 29 cases — a staggering 93% increase that tells the story of Britain's custody system under pressure.

This isn't just a Hull problem. It's a snapshot of what's happening across Britain's overcrowded prisons while the political class debates everything except the violence erupting in our jails. One facility, one year, one number that should alarm anyone who cares about public safety.

The 93% surge in Hull represents nearly two violent incidents for every one that occurred the previous year. These aren't statistics — they're assaults, fights, and attacks happening to real people locked inside our custody system. (Source: Ministry of Justice, Safety in Custody -- Safety-in-custody-summary-q3-2024_final_table_accessible -- Table_8a)

What makes Hull's numbers particularly stark is their timing. As politicians focused on future threats from artificial intelligence, present-day violence was escalating behind prison walls. The contrast is jarring: endless debate about hypothetical AI risks while actual violence doubles in a single facility.

This surge didn't happen in isolation. Britain's prisons are operating at breaking point, with overcrowding reaching crisis levels. When you pack more people into spaces designed for fewer, when staffing struggles to keep pace, when tensions run high — violence follows. Hull's numbers are the inevitable result.

The 29 violent incidents in Hull last year translate to more than two serious episodes every month. Each one represents a failure of the system to keep people safe, whether they're serving time or working to maintain order. Each incident ripples outward, affecting families, communities, and public confidence in justice.

While the media circus focuses on political theatre and technological speculation, the real crisis unfolds in places like Hull prison. Violence is surging, safety is declining, and the numbers don't lie. The 93% increase isn't just a statistic — it's a warning sign that our custody system is failing the most basic test of keeping people safe.

Britain's prisons need attention, resources, and urgent reform. But they're getting none of those things while politicians chase headlines about AI and weather warnings dominate the news. The violence in Hull won't wait for the political class to notice.