Prison
Cat B, local, resettlement, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Bristol
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 10 January 2023
HMP Bristol has demonstrated positive improvements in safety, with reductions in self-harm and staff assaults, and effective Covid-19 management. However, the prison continues to face significant challenges, including an insufficient staffing budget and high non-effective rates that frequently impact regime delivery, purposeful activity, and key worker provision. Concerns persist regarding the Victorian infrastructure, particularly poor disability access and heating issues, alongside prolonged waits for specialist mental health transfers and an ongoing problem with lost prisoner property.
Positive Findings
HMP Bristol managed Covid-19 well with no serious illness or deaths, demonstrating staff and management credit. The prison has also seen reduced self-harm incidents and assaults on staff, while general healthcare provision is good and aligned with community standards. Positive initiatives like the Harmony project and increased engagement with resettlement services have been welcomed, and the prison has successfully exited urgent notification status.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Increasing remand prisoner numbers and the lack of release planning support for those not eligible for probation services.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Persistent challenges with the Victorian infrastructure, affecting disability access, heating, and hot water, especially for elderly and disabled prisoners.
Mental Health
Concerns about the accuracy of reported waiting times for specialist mental health services, suggesting a review of reporting rules.
Staffing
Repeated
An insufficient prison staffing budget and high non-effective rates, leading to staff inability to cover duties, cancellation of activities, and inconsistent key work delivery.
Other
Repeated
The ongoing significant problem of lost or delayed prisoner property, including crucial legal and personal documents.
Overcrowding
The need for close monitoring of planned increases in operational capacity to prevent loss of improvements in safety and decency.
Other
The necessity of financial support for prisons to manage rapidly increasing cost of living and energy pressures.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Bristol faces significant staffing challenges, with fewer directly employed staff and a notable loss of experienced personnel. The high non-effective rate (30-40% against a 20% budget) means activities for prisoners are often cancelled, and key worker provision remains inconsistent. Even at full establishment, staffing levels are deemed insufficient for all duties, impacting daily regime and staff morale.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision at HMP Bristol is generally good and comparable to community services, with successful Covid-19 management. However, clinics remain inaccessible for physically disabled prisoners, necessitating peripatetic services or transfers for dental care. A significant concern is the excessively long waiting times for prisoners with severe mental health needs to transfer to specialist units, often resulting in prolonged stays in the segregation unit. While primary care waiting times have improved, optician services have a 26-week wait, and external hospital appointments strain prison staffing resources.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime has largely returned to normal post-Covid lockdowns, with all prisoners receiving a minimum of 30 minutes daily outdoor exercise and access to purposeful activities. However, the average time out of cell remains at 5 hours 15 minutes, with some prisoners getting as little as two hours. Staffing shortages are the primary constraint, leading to limitations on education and work opportunities and general reductions in the planned regime. The retention of single-landing unlocking contributes to perceived safety but has also led to noisier wings.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Adjudications | 3 | 1 | |
| Chaplaincy | 4 | 2 | |
| Discrimination | 16 | 24 | |
| Drugs and alcohol | 1 | 0 | |
| Education, activities and workshops | 9 | 9 | — |
| Family contact | 8 | 7 | |
| Finance | 3 | 3 | — |
| Food | 12 | 9 | |
| General concerns (no specific category) | 3 | 2 | |
| General conditions | 3 | 0 | |
| Healthcare | 36 | 40 | |
| Incentives and privileges | 3 | 1 | |
| Property | 32 | 15 | |
| Resettlement | 2 | 3 | |
| Segregation | 6 | 10 | |
| Staff (including complaints about staff) | 39 | 37 | |
| Visits (PVP and legal) | 6 | 6 | — |
| Vulnerability, self-harm and ACCT | 7 | 16 | |
| Welfare | 1 | 0 |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 4
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 3
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
Remand prisoner numbers and the length of time spent in prison continue to increase due to lack of access to court time. What support can be provided to help with release planning as they are not eligible for probation services?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
The Victorian infrastructure of Bristol prison continues to cause problems with disability access and adequate heating and hot water. This is especially significant for the increasing numbers of elderly and disabled prisoners. What alternative provisions for this population are being considered?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 3
Will there be any financial support provided to prisons to cope with the rapidly increasing cost of living and increasing energy cost pressures?
Ministry of Justice
Other
Recommendation 4
The actual waiting times for access to specialist mental health services experienced by prisoners appear to be longer than reported. This is due to the design of the reporting rules covering different stages of the pathway. Will the rules be reviewed so that the reported figures accurately reflect the total time waited?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 5
Can the planned increases in the operational capacity be monitored closely so that the significant gains made in safety, decency, and culture at Bristol prison since 2019 are not lost?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 6
Repeated
The prison staffing budget, with an ineffective rate of 20%, appears insufficient to cover all duties, thereby directly impacting on the daily lives of prisoners. Will there be any review of staffing budgets in the coming year?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What further support can be provided so that the important activity of key work is delivered consistently and to a high standard for all prisoners, even with the current staffing levels?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 8
Repeated
The loss or delay of prisoners’ property is still a big problem and is especially important when this includes legal and other paperwork. How will you ensure that the situation will be improved by the new national framework?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 9
We appreciate regular contact and good communication with the Governor and members of the senior management team. Can this be continued for the future?
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 10
The Board wishes to receive more regular updates on performance indicators and progress reports on various initiatives. Can this be provided more often?
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 11
Repeated
The Board is concerned about the impact of prison staffing issues on the daily life of prisoners. What local actions are underway to improve staff availability, especially in respect of the non-effective rate?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Other IMB Reports for Bristol
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
26 Jul 2023
Urgent Notification
10 Jul 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 1
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.