While Bill Gates discusses AI safety in Delhi and politicians debate digital futures, a different kind of safety crisis is unfolding in Britain's prisons. At HMP Isis in South London, violent incidents have nearly doubled in a single year.

The numbers are stark. This medium-security prison recorded 45 violent incidents in 2024, compared to just 23 the previous year. That's a 95.7% surge in twelve months — one of the steepest increases in the prison system (Source: Ministry of Justice, Safety in Custody -- Safety-in-custody-summary-q3-2024_final_table_accessible -- Table_8a).

To put this in perspective: HMP Isis now averages nearly one violent incident every eight days. Each incident could be an assault on a prisoner, an attack on staff, or a fight between inmates. Behind every number is someone hurt, someone's safety compromised, someone's rehabilitation set back.

The question isn't just what's happening at Isis — it's why this particular prison has seen such a dramatic escalation. Built to house 628 prisoners, Isis operates as a Category C facility, meaning it holds men who cannot be trusted in open conditions but aren't considered the highest security risks.

This surge comes at a time when Britain's prison system is already under immense pressure. Overcrowding has reached crisis levels, with some institutions running at 150% capacity. Staff shortages plague the system. Early release schemes have been implemented to manage population levels.

But even within this troubled context, a 96% year-on-year increase stands out. It suggests something specific has changed at this South London facility. Whether it's staffing levels, prisoner demographics, management practices, or external pressures, the data points to a prison in crisis.

The human cost is impossible to ignore. Each violent incident represents a failure of the system designed to both punish and rehabilitate. It means staff going home worried about tomorrow's shift. It means prisoners living in fear. It means families visiting loved ones in an increasingly dangerous environment.

While policymakers focus on the potential risks of artificial intelligence, the immediate dangers facing real people in Britain's prisons demand equal attention. The 96% increase at HMP Isis isn't just a statistic — it's a warning sign that cannot be ignored.