Prison
Cat local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Bullingdon
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 1 December 2021
HMP Bullingdon faced significant challenges during the reporting year (July 2020 – June 2021), exacerbated by Covid-19 restrictions which led to extensive in-cell time and impacted various services. The Board noted chronic overcrowding, an increase in self-harm incidents, and persistent issues with staff experience levels and the provision of mental healthcare. Progression and resettlement efforts were hindered by a high turnover of prisoners, predominantly those on remand or serving short sentences, while the effectiveness of drug interception measures remains a concern.
Positive Findings
The recently installed in-cell telephones and additional telephones on wings have continued to work well, facilitating contact between prisoners, families, and staff. Covid-19 peer representatives met regularly with management, helping to inform and reassure prisoners. A body scanner in reception and an airport-style scanner at the gate were installed and have been successful in reducing illicit items. The reduction of outstanding OASys plans was a positive development for sentence planning, and the prison's selection for the Reducing Reoffending Accelerator (RRA) project is welcomed.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
There are some prisoners in Bullingdon whose state of mental health is such that the prison is not equipped to cope with them; it is very likely that they need to be sent to secure psychiatric institutions instead. Some of these prisoners have spent far longer in the SSCU than 42 days, after which continued segregation has to be reported to regional management, and some of them have repeatedly self-harmed.
Staffing
There continues to be a high proportion of staff with limited experience and some have no experience of the prison regime as it was before Covid-19 restrictions were imposed and may therefore find it difficult to adapt when these restrictions are finally lifted.
Resettlement/Release
The continuing reconfiguration of the prison has led to an increasing number of prisoners on remand or serving shorter sentences. The increasing churn resulting has caused the prison problems particularly in the area of progression and resettlement. Many prisoners have not had time to complete education courses before their release. Also, many prisoners have either not been able to progress from unskilled work to skilled work or have not been able to complete any training courses which they have undertaken as part of this skilled work.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The prison continues to be chronically overcrowded, despite repeated representations by the Board that the overcrowding is unacceptable. There are 521 cells designed for single occupancy, most of which are occupied by two prisoners. This overcrowding puts great pressure on communal spaces and facilities and is incompatible with the fair and decent treatment of prisoners who are doubled up in cells designed for single use, particularly when, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, many prisoners have to spend 23 hours per day in their cells.
Estate/Conditions
The Board understands that there are plans for a new building at the prison which is to accommodate 240 more prisoners.
Substance Misuse
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison, including the greater use of sniffer dogs, the screening and copying of incoming mail, the installation of a body scanner for prisoners in reception, and the installation of an airport-style scanner at the gate used for entry by visitors and staff.
Board Commentary
Staffing
As of 30 June 2021, Bullingdon had 316 uniformed staff, with 59 officers leaving during the year (36 resigned). Staff shortages in healthcare were exacerbated by a dispute with agency staff due to national tax changes. The IT systems in the prison continued to be slow and unreliable, hindering staff in routine tasks and record-keeping, especially with new electronic recording systems.
Healthcare
Healthcare services transitioned from Care UK to Practice Plus Group in September 2020. Recruitment and retention of healthcare staff remain an ongoing issue, impacting daily routines and leading to delays in medication administration. An internal audit in August 2020 identified mislaid prescriptions and medication delays. Long waiting lists for dental services (up to 26 weeks) and routine GP appointments (5-6 weeks) persisted due to Covid-19 restrictions, although additional funding helped reduce some urgent waiting lists. The mental health team does not offer counselling, a significant unmet need.
Regime & Daily Life
Covid-19 restrictions led to many prisoners spending 23 hours a day in their cells, significantly curtailing access to education, vocational training, work opportunities, library, and gym. Social visits were suspended periodically, with video link visits introduced. Daily welfare checks were made, but long periods of isolation were common. Overcrowding, with many cells designed for single occupancy housing two prisoners, exacerbated the regime challenges.
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 | |
| Discipline (adjudications) | 23 | 12 | |
| Food | 28 | 29 | |
| Healthcare | 62 | 75 | |
| IPP | 11 | 12 | |
| Other | 197 | 172 | |
| Segregation (Rule 45) | 11 | 12 | |
| Staff (including discrimination) | 44 | 31 | |
| Total | 543 | 505 | |
| Visits (including Purple Visits) | 18 | 22 | |
| Welfare (including clothing and property) | 81 | 81 | — |
| Work and education | 23 | 21 |
Recommendations (16)
Ministry of Justice: 5
HMPPS: 6
Governor / Director: 5
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
There are some prisoners in Bullingdon whose state of mental health is such that the prison is not equipped to cope with them; it is very likely that they need to be sent to secure psychiatric institutions instead. Some of these prisoners have spent far longer in the SSCU than 42 days, after which continued segregation has to be reported to regional management, and some of them have repeatedly self-harmed. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that such prisoners are no longer sent to the prison?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 1
There are some prisoners in Bullingdon whose state of mental health is such that the prison is not equipped to cope with them; it is very likely that they need to be sent to secure psychiatric institutions. Some of these prisoners have spent far longer in the SSCU than 42 days, after which continued segregation has to be reported to regional management, and some of them have repeatedly self-harmed. What steps will the Prison Service take to ensure that such prisoners are no longer sent to the prison?
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 1
There continues to be a high proportion of staff with limited experience. In some instances, these staff have no experience of the prison regime before Covid-19. How will the Governor ensure that these staff receive appropriate training so that they can carry out their duties effectively?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 2
There continues to be a high proportion of staff with limited experience. How will the Minister ensure that experienced staff levels are maintained at adequate levels, and what can the Minister do to enhance the training that all staff receive?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 2
There continues to be a high proportion of staff with limited experience and some have no experience of the prison regime as it was before Covid-19 restrictions were imposed and may therefore find it difficult to adapt when these restrictions are finally lifted. How will the Prison Service ensure that staff receive the training and professional development which they will need if they are to succeed in their role?
HMPPS
Staffing
Recommendation 2
The continuing reconfiguration of the prison has led to an increasing number of prisoners on remand or serving shorter sentences. The increasing churn resulting has caused the prison problems particularly in the area of progression and resettlement. Many prisoners have not had time to complete education courses before their release. Also, many prisoners have either not been able to progress from unskilled work to skilled work or have not been able to complete any training courses which they have undertaken as part of this skilled work. The selection of the prison to take part in the RRA project is welcome but what other steps will the Governor take to ensure that the prison improves its provision of progression and resettlement services?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
The continuing reconfiguration of the prison has led to an increasing number of prisoners on remand or serving shorter sentences. The increasing churn has caused the prison problems, in particular with regard to progression and resettlement. The selection of the prison to take part in the RRA project is welcomed, but what other steps can the Minister take so that the prison can improve its provision of progression and resettlement services?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
The continuing reconfiguration of the prison has led to an increasing number of prisoners on remand or serving shorter sentences. The increasing churn resulting has caused the prison problems particularly in the area of progression and resettlement. Many prisoners have not had time to complete education courses before their release. Also, many prisoners have either not been able to progress from unskilled work to skilled work or have not been able to complete any training courses which they have undertaken as part of this skilled work. The selection of the prison to take part in the RRA project is welcomed but what other steps will the Prison Service take to ensure that the prison improves its provision of progression and resettlement services?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison continues to be chronically overcrowded. There are 521 cells designed for single occupancy, most of which are occupied by two prisoners. This overcrowding puts great pressure on communal spaces and facilities and is incompatible with the fair and decent treatment of prisoners who are doubled up in cells designed for single use, particularly when, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, many prisoners have to spend 23 hours per day in their cells. What steps can the Governor take to reduce the chronic overcrowding?
Governor / Director
Overcrowding
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison continues to be chronically overcrowded, despite repeated representations by the Board that the overcrowding is unacceptable. There are 521 cells designed for single occupancy, most of which are occupied by two prisoners. This overcrowding puts great pressure on communal spaces and facilities. It is incompatible with the fair and decent treatment of prisoners who are doubled up in cells designed for single use, particularly when, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, many prisoners have to spend 23 hours per day in their cells What steps can the Minister take to reduce the chronic overcrowding?
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The prison continues to be chronically overcrowded, despite the Board’s repeated representations that the overcrowding is unacceptable. There are 521 cells designed for single occupancy, most of which are occupied by two prisoners. This overcrowding puts great pressure on communal spaces and facilities and is incompatible with the fair and decent treatment of prisoners who are doubled up in cells designed for single use, particularly when, owing to Covid-19 restrictions, many prisoners have to spend 23 hours per day in their cells. What steps can the Prison Service take to reduce the chronic overcrowding?
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 4
The Board understands that there are plans for a new building at the prison which is to accommodate 240 more prisoners. Does the governor expect that this new building be used to reduce the chronic overcrowding in the existing prison? If not, what other steps can the Governor take to reduce that overcrowding?
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 5
The Board understands that there are plans for a new building at the prison which is to accommodate 240 more prisoners. Does the Minister intend that the new building be used to reduce the chronic overcrowding in the existing prison?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 5
The Board understands that there are plans for a new building at the prison which is to accommodate 240 more prisoners. Does the Prison Service intend to use this new building to reduce the chronic overcrowding in the existing prison? If not, what other steps can the Prison Service take to reduce it?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison, including the greater use of sniffer dogs, the screening and copying of incoming mail, the installation of a body scanner for prisoners in reception, and the installation of an airport-style scanner at the gate used for entry by visitors and staff. What further steps can the Governor take to address the availability and use of drugs in the prison?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 6
There continues to be a problem with the availability and use of drugs. This is despite the strenuous efforts which were made in the reporting year on the part of the prison, including the greater use of sniffer dogs, the screening and copying of incoming mail, the installation of a body scanner for prisoners in reception, and the installation of an airport-style scanner at the gate used for entry by visitors and staff. What further steps can the Prison Service take to address the availability and use of drugs in the prison?
HMPPS
Substance Misuse
Other IMB Reports for Bullingdon
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.