Prison
Cat B, local, resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Bristol
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 10 December 2021
HMP Bristol successfully managed Covid-19, implementing strong infection control and a good vaccination programme. The prison saw significant improvements in accommodation and the general environment, alongside a reduction in self-harm and violence. However, the Board remains concerned about inconsistent key work delivery, staffing shortfalls, persistent issues with disability access, and the appropriate placement of vulnerable prisoners.
Positive Findings
HMP Bristol successfully managed Covid-19, implementing strong infection control and a good vaccination programme. The prison environment saw significant improvements in accommodation, facilities, and general ambience. Both self-harm and violence incidents reduced, contributing to prisoners' increased feelings of safety. Healthcare provision was generally good, and new initiatives for resettlement and purposeful activity were positively received.
Key Concerns
Healthcare
Support for neurodivergence in HMP Bristol is an area of concern for the Board.
Resettlement/Release
The increasing number of older and disabled prisoners with medical, mobility and social care needs in the prison. Typically, around 30 prisoners are classified as needing personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs). While these needs are mostly being met, this can impact on staffing, due to hospital attendances and increasing numbers of bed watches.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Disability access has still not improved, including access to the healthcare building.
Staffing
Key working has been adapted during the year, and has not been consistently delivered.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Property delay or loss during transfers from other establishments remains a problem locally and nationally.
Healthcare
As in the community, there are still delays for some services, such as dental treatment.
Mental Health
Time taken to transfer prisoners with severe mental ill-health to a secure hospital placement has improved slightly but varies significantly between different hospitals.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Can you facilitate access to appropriate room allocations, so that the mental health, substance misuse and other teams can deliver their full range of programmes effectively?
Staffing
Despite staffing numbers being, on paper, above the benchmark of 154 staff, in reality staff are unavailable for weekly commissioned work requirements due to a number of factors, including, for example, training, allocation to specific tasks/projects, sickness, Covid-19 isolation and restricted duties.
Other
The Board highlights the case of one particular prisoner with Asperger’s syndrome and severe anxiety who was remanded in custody for over 14 months pending trial. Given delays to the court process due to Covid-19, the prisoner was offered a plea bargain which, given time served to date, would allow his immediate release. Having taken this offer of the plea bargain to secure release, the prisoner’s detention was then extended on instruction of the Home Office pending an intention to deport, and so he has remained in custody at HMP Bristol with no clear path forward.
Healthcare
Repeated
Poor supervision of medication queues has continued to be reported, and is, of course, a risk for diversion of desirable medication.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing remains a significant challenge for HMP Bristol, with a consistent shortfall against benchmark numbers and an annual attrition rate exceeding 30%. Key work delivery is inconsistent due to staff being diverted to more pressing duties like healthcare escorts and bed watches. High vacancy rates persist across healthcare departments, and uncompetitive pay and challenging conditions contribute to staff departures.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision at HMP Bristol is generally good, demonstrated by successful Covid-19 management and vaccination. However, the increasing population of older and disabled prisoners places a strain on resources, leading to staffing impacts from bed watches and escorts. Persistent issues include problematic disabled access to clinics, significant delays for dental treatment and routine GP appointments, and challenges with mental health group room allocations and transfers to secure hospitals.
Regime & Daily Life
Despite Covid-19 restrictions, HMP Bristol successfully adapted its regime using wing landing 'bubbles', which prisoners found made the prison feel safer. Prisoners had at least one hour 45 minutes out of cell daily, with many receiving more purposeful activity, and in-cell telephones improved family contact. The general environment on wings and grounds has improved significantly, and education is transitioning back to a blended learning approach.
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 | |
| Chaplaincy/faith | 3 | 2 | |
| Complaints procedure | 2 | 0 | |
| Discipline | 9 | 1 | |
| Equality and diversity (non-racial) | 5 | 2 | |
| Finance | 4 | 3 | |
| Food | 10 | 6 | |
| Healthcare | 25 | 11 | |
| Legal | 6 | 2 | |
| Other | 34 | 28 | |
| Property | 26 | 32 | |
| Race relations | 5 | 1 | |
| Security/searches | 9 | 12 | |
| Staff | 12 | 18 | |
| Total | 208 | 149 | |
| Visits/communications | 7 | 2 | |
| Work, education and vocational training | 11 | 1 |
Recommendations (10)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 3
Recommendation 1
What initiatives – for example, training for prison staff – are planned to improve outcomes for prisoners with neurodivergent conditions, which, as we have observed and a recent review outlined, impacts their ability to engage?
Ministry of Justice
Healthcare
Recommendation 2
How is the Ministry of Justice working with other agencies to consider alternatives to prison for elderly and vulnerable prisoners who could be better managed in non-custodial environments?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Why was Covid-19 vaccination not carried out as a pan-prison programme to protect vulnerable prisoners in crowded environments and also staff, many of whom should be considered equal to care staff in their role? Is this being reviewed for the future?
Ministry of Justice
Healthcare
Recommendation 4
Can you provide further resources and guidance as to how key work should be delivered and how well it is achieving its strategic intentions?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 5
The reduction in the operational capacity following the urgent notification in 2019 has facilitated the progress in safety and decency observed in our report. We hope that the numbers will not be increased too quickly or too high to enable this progress to be consolidated.
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 6
Please encourage HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and other visitors to the establishment to make contact with the Board. As independent volunteers carrying out a statutory role, we are a vital set of eyes and ears, and can provide valuable information and insights into the prison.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 7
Property delay or loss during transfers from other establishments remains a problem locally and nationally. What is being done to improve this?
HMPPS
Complaints
Recommendation 8
The Board has welcomed Governor attendance at our Board meetings, and useful communication between meetings including with the Deputy Governor. We hope that we will be invited to meet visitors to the prison and attend appropriate debriefings, which did not happen consistently during this year.
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 9
It would also be useful to share details of how various initiatives are aligned to key areas for improvement, so we can better monitor and report on developments.
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 10
Can you facilitate access to appropriate room allocations, so that the mental health, substance misuse and other teams can deliver their full range of programmes effectively?
Governor / Director
Mental Health
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.