Report Prison improves but suicide and self-harm rates still too high

HMP Bristol still has worryingly high levels of suicide and self-harm among its prisoners, inspectors have found.

There have been two more suicides this year and self-harm incidents are three times higher than at similar prisons, a report released on Friday revealed.

However, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke concluded the men’s prison in Horfield is “much improved” and “a more purposeful, safe and decent establishment” than it was at the last inspection.

That inspection in May 2019 was so troubling it prompted Mr Clarke to invoke a rare “urgent notification” calling on then Secretary of State for Justice David Gauke MP to intervene urgently to support the prison.

At the time, Mr Clarke noted “high violence” and “squalid” conditions at the prison after a decade of “drift and decline”.

Now, following a scrutiny visit last month, the chief inspector has issued a report saying “at long last” there have been “important changes” at Bristol.

“A scrutiny visit does not have the scope or capacity to fully follow up a situation such as this one, but I am pleased to report that we saw enough to be confident that, in our view, Bristol was a much-improved institution,” Mr Clarke wrote.

“High levels of suicide and selfharm, however, remained a concern, with two self-inflicted deaths in 2020 and one further very recent unexplained death which was under investigation.

“Recorded self-harm incidents were three times higher than at comparator prisons.

“Considerable effort had been made to reduce self-harm, and there were very early indications that these initiatives might be having an impact.”

Mr Clarke recommended levels of suicide and self-harm must be reduced as a “high priority”.

Esam Dawood, 27, took his own life in March this year while being held at the prison as he underwent a trial for murder.

Prisoner Ashley Deane Roberts, 22, died in hospital in May while waiting for a court date.

Shaun Dewey, 30, was found dead in his cell in April 2019. An inquest later found he had been failed by the prison.

“Numerous failings” in the medical care of David McPherson, who died in the prison in February 2019, were found by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in March of this year.

Mr Clarke also made recommendations relating to dental care and public protection after finding prisoners’ wait for routine dental care was “as long as six months and increasing” and “not all” high-risk prisoners were discussed “in good time” before their release.

Much more work was needed to improve prisoners’ living conditions, he added.

While some areas had seen “significant improvements”, some were still “poor” and many new arrivals “remained in accommodation that was not decent and respectful”.

Mr Clarke noted levels of assaults in the prison had fallen since the start of the pandemic and few assaults were serious, but that assaults on staff were frequent.

“It was evident that many were in response to staff challenging noncompliance [with coronavirus restrictions] and often involved prisoners spitting at staff or throwing liquids at them, often including excrement and urine,” he said.

Mr Clarke praised the prison’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, noting no cases had been recorded among prisoners and the time they spent outside their cells had been maximised.

But he said 25 per cent of prisoners were released without settled accommodation during the pandemic, which was “far too high”.

He said prisoners from a Black or minority ethnic background responded more negatively than white prisoners across several areas in a survey and this required further investigation.

The survey findings included:

» 28 per cent of prisoners said they felt unsafe and almost a quarter reported victimisation or bullying behaviour from other prisoners

» 72 per cent said that staff treated them with respect but only 47 per cent said that a member of staff had talked to them in the past week to see how they were getting on

» Only 54 per cent said it was easy to make a written complaint

» 56 per cent said the food was good or reasonable and 89 per cent said they were able to use the phone every day if they had credit

» 50 per cent said it was easy to see a nurse but only nine per cent said it was easy to see a dentist

» 62 per cent said they had a mental health problem.

Overall, Mr Clarke said: “At long last there had been important changes at Bristol.

“Not only had the response to the pandemic been very well managed with the support of the prison group director, but strong and energetic leadership had kept work going during this period to improve the prison.

“We found a more purposeful, safe and decent establishment than at the time of our previous inspection, despite the regime restrictions.

“The prison now needs the opportunity to embed and sustain this progress with continued additional support from HM Prison and Probation Service.”

Phil Copple, HM Prison and Probation Service director-general of prisons, said: “This report reflects the hard work of the governor and staff to improve conditions and create a better rehabilitative environment.

“It is testament to the skill and effectiveness of the swift action taken to manage Covid-19 risks that the Inspectorate found Bristol to be more purposeful, safe and decent than it was, despite the necessary regime restrictions. While further progress is needed, I have confidence this will be embedded in the future as part of our recovery from Covid-19.”

HMP Bristol is a category B local and resettlement prison holding approximately 500 young and adult male prisoners.

It is one of 10 prisons to benefit from a “new intensive support programme” which is being implemented to help “challenging jails” improve safety and rehabilitation.

We found a more purposeful, safe and decent establishment than at the time of our previous inspection

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke