PRT comment: Second HMP Bristol Urgent Notification

Commenting on the announcement today (28 July) that HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has issued a second Urgent Notification to HMP Bristol, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“The appalling state of HMP Bristol is indicative of the wider chronically overburdened system. Prisons are experiencing a perfect storm which is pushing them past breaking point – eight prisoners have taken their own lives since the last inspection, most of whom had done so within the last 10 months, escalating violence and drug use, appalling living conditions – the human cost of this crisis is shameful. Local leaders cannot be left to face this ongoing crisis on their own, and with only their local resources. The government must stop trying to incarcerate themselves out of this mess. Instead, they must urgently look to diversion, alternatives to ineffective short sentences, and to vastly reducing the remand population.’’