‘Rotten culture’ Discrimination probe at prison
THE staff culture at HMP Bristol has been described as “rotten” by a source amid claims of racism towards Asian inmates.
The Post understands the alleged incidents of discrimination are being investigated and that a Prisoners’ Committee has been set up in one of the prison’s wings to empower inmates, exchange experiences and show support and solidarity with each other.
The Prison Service has said it has a zero tolerance towards discrimination in their prisons and it will not hesitate to stamp it out.
The Post understands three Discrimination Incident Reporting Forms (DIRFs) have been submitted in the past six weeks. These reports have been made by inmates of different backgrounds in reference to two officers working in the same wing.
A friend of a prisoner described the staff culture at HMP Bristol as “rotten” and claimed: “Despite the diverse ethnic make-up of Bristol City itself, staff at HMP Bristol are disproportionately white and are either ignorant of, disrespectful of or actively antagonistic towards the people of colour in their care.”
The source claimed that, on February 22, two Asian men asked one of the officers to go outside to the yard for exercise.
The statement from the Prisoners’ Committee reads: “The officer took a belligerent approach towards them, saying they could, but ‘if anything happened they would get a Negative.’ This means they could lose their jobs and ability to leave their cells, attend activities etc.
“One of the Asian men wanted to go to the gym and then get some fresh air on the yard, but he was refused even though this is frequently allowed. The
Asian men went to the yard and during that mere hour outside, a parcel was thrown over the wall onto the yard.
“Straightaway the officer started staring in a hostile way at the two Asian men, even though they didn’t take the parcel and were nowhere near it. In fact, they moved away from the throw-over. The parcel was eventually recovered from someone in the white community, clearly indicating it had no link with the two Asian prisoners.
“A lot of screws arrived to monitor the situation and when all prisoners were brought back inside, that same officer gave all the Asian men a Negative IEP (Incentive Earned Privilege Scheme).
“Then the officer wouldn’t let any of the Asian prisoners out of their cells in the evening, as is their right. White prisoners were not given a Negative IEP and when one white prisoner asked the officer if he would also be penalised, he said ‘Nah, I’ve calmed down now.’”
The source claimed the Asian prisoners were then not given permission to have a shower by that same officer, who also bullied another Asian inmate. They claimed the officer took out his frustration on one of the Asian inmates.
“These incidents are not isolated but form a pattern of conduct,” they said. “We are all in agreement he is a racist. This officer only causes problems when he is on the wing. We want him off now.”
They said the problems with heating continue, adding they have been without hot water or heating for a month now. The Prison Service said last month it was working “urgently” to resolve the heating issues.
“There are no extra blankets and we do not even have enough towels, sheets or other linen for all the men,” they claimed.