Outdated resources slowing positive progress at HMP Bristol
Following last year’s critical report and the urgent notification issued by HMIP in July 2023, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Bristol is pleased to report that improvements have been made during the reporting year. However, the experience for prisoners is still challenging. Bristol prison was built over 140 years ago, is overcrowded and lacks the IT infrastructure and facilities needed for the 21st century.
In its 2023-24 annual report, published today (10 December 2024), the IMB is pleased to report that:
- The number of prison staff on duty has increased, enabling more prisoners to attend education and work and reducing the time spent locked up in overcrowded prison cells.
- Violent incidents at the prison are lower than in previous years. However, they remain higher than similar prisons in other parts of England and Wales.
However, the Board also highlights that:
- Illicit items including drugs, alcohol and mobile phones are still accessible to prisoners.
- There is limited general mental health support for prisoners who are not in immediate crisis.
- The lack of digital information systems for prisoners means that every single task is carried out via paper forms. These take longer to process which results in considerable frustration for prisoners and additional work for staff.
- Overcrowding continues, with most prisoners sharing cells originally designed for one.
IMB Chair, Eric Gatling said:
“Prisoners at HMP Bristol are getting a better experience than a year ago, due to the improvements made by the Governor and her staff. However, there is still work to be done to get the safety levels for prisoners and staff to that of other similar prisons. The Board believes that should staffing numbers reduce in the future there is a strong chance that the recent improvements experienced by prisoners at HMP Bristol will not be sustained.”