HMP Bullingdon: Staff shortages and overcrowding harm jail - report

HMP Bullingdon took in 300 new inmates every month, inspectors said

Staff shortages and overcrowding are continuing to undermine a men's prison, a report has found.

Levels of self-harm, violence, the use of force against inmates and the availability of drugs at HMP Bullingdon remain high, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) added.

The jail near Bicester, Oxfordshire, suffers from "churn", with 300 inmates arriving every month, the IMB added.

The Prison Service said it had recruited more staff since the report.

In their annual report, the IMB's volunteer inspectors said there had been a further reduction of 34 uniformed staff, with the shortfall covered by other prisons.

'Chronic overcrowding'

The staff shortage meant less time spent with prisoners, delays in allocating work for them and the cancellation of visitors on Mondays, the report noted.

The ongoing construction of a new wing for 247 prisoners will have no impact on "chronic overcrowding" because the prison's capacity limit will also be increased, it added.

Inspectors said: "The increasing level of churn in the prison has led to more prisoners being unable to achieve outcomes on education courses and the serious erosion of distance learning."

The jail kept some prisoners in its segregation unit for long periods, including one man who was isolated for 155 days, they said.

However, the report commended the prison's new reading strategy and neurodiversity support manager.

It added: "The prison has been making great efforts to find skilled work opportunities for prisoners both in the prison and upon their release."

The Prison Service said: "We're delivering the most new prison places in over a century so we can reduce overcrowding while locking up criminals for longer to keep the public safe.

"Since the report HMP Bullingdon has bolstered the number of staff to reduce violence and improve the support provided to vulnerable prisoners."

Opened in 1992, HMP Bullingdon normally houses about 1,100 men, with 90% of inmates spending less than a year there at the time of the inspection.