Bristol prison: Inmates failed at jail 'pushed to its limits'

The report said Bristol Prison has one of the highest numbers of deaths across the country

Inmates are being failed at a prison that is being "pushed to its limits", a report has found.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said it was "shocked and saddened" by a recent increase in deaths at HMP Bristol.

Problems identified include high levels of violence and self-harm, overcrowding and insufficient healthcare.

A Prison Service spokesperson said action had been taken "to address the serious concerns raised".

"This includes bolstering the number of frontline staff to reduce violence and improving the support provided to vulnerable prisoners," they added.

The IMB report said the jail had one of the highest numbers of deaths across the country, and the highest levels of self-harm and violent incidents, when compared to other similar prisons.

The board said nine deaths were reported between August 2022 and July 2023, with six being self-inflicted and one a suspected murder.

It also said the jail was overcrowded, with the number of inmates increasing from 480 to 550 over the past year with no increase in cells or additional staff.

Toph Hind was convicted of violent disorder

Toph Hind was convicted of violent disorder and served six months in prison, of which he spent two weeks in HMP Bristol. He has since been released on licence.

He said: "The prison was very dirty. When I was first shown to my cell, there was blood on the door and ceiling. It looked like it had never been cleaned, there was brown scum all over the window."

Mr Hind was using prescribed anti-anxiety medication which he takes every day.

"Before I was sentenced, I was told to take three months worth of my medication into prison," he said. "They wouldn't give me the medication, as they said I needed an email from my doctor.

"I didn't get it for nearly a week. Entering that environment without the medication was traumatic.

"The prison is not supposed to be badly run, that does not fall under the category of punishment."

He also said he saw people taking drugs, fighting and self-harming, and claims he was locked in his cell for 23 hours a day, without access to education or rehabilitation.

The IMB report highlighted a repeated shortage of prison staff on duty and said there is insufficient healthcare, especially for prisoners with more complex physical or mental health needs.

The IMB's Emma Firman said there has been an increase in deaths

Bristol IMB chairperson Emma Firman said: "We are now seeing a prison that is being pushed to its limits.

"If the prison is to be fit for purpose, additional resources and a reduction in overcrowding is needed.

"Prisoners are being failed and most will have little chance of rehabilitation upon release."

The IMB report, based on visits by a team of independent monitors, is the latest to be highly critical of HMP Bristol.

The HM Chief Inspector of Prisons found it to be one of the most unsafe in the country in a report released in October.

BBC West's investigations team has also been given an insight into conditions in HMP Bristol through letters sent by an inmate.

The prisoner described their experience as a "nightmare".

On one day, the prisoner said there were only two health care nurses for the whole prison.

Problems identified include high levels of violence and self-harm

In the letter, he said: "Nurses are tired physically and mentally of not getting help and waiting for medical supplies."

He said his own health has suffered from a delay in treatment.

The inmate also criticised hygiene, saying there were "drugs and rats everywhere".

The prisoner described one inmate soiling himself and his cell, and walking around in "caked" clothes, including into the food area.

He said as a result, the whole wing smelt of urine and faeces.

He also claimed drugs are readily available, with one fellow inmate "on spice for weeks".

He described another incident where someone harmed themselves with a blade, which he said is "very common here".

The BBC is unable to verify any of his claims, but the reports from both the Chief Inspector of Prisons and IMB criticise levels of violence, self-harm and drugs.

The BBC has also obtained data showing a large rise in the number of 999 calls to the ambulance service made about HMP Bristol.

Emergency calls to the South Western Ambulance Service have more than doubled over the past five years

In 2018, there were 240 emergency calls made to the South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST).

So far in 2023, this has increased to 548 - a rise of 128%. This amounts to more than 10 calls per week.

The Prison Service responded to claims made in the report and by inmates.

A spokesperson said: "We only double up cells where it is safe to do so and we're undertaking significant refurbishments at the prison as part of our multi-billion pound investment to improve conditions across the estate."