HMP Bristol has refuted a claim that prisoners have been left "shivering" in "inhumane" conditions during an ongoing issue with its heating. Two sources, who both declined to be named, have separately contacted Bristol Live complaining of the impact a lack of heating and hot water has had on inmates.
Last week the prison in Horfield confirmed a report that A and G wings have been without heating since November 24. A prison spokesperson said at the time: “We are working to urgently resolve heating issues at HMP Bristol, prisoners are being provided with extra blankets, jumpers and flasks of hot water in the meantime.”
An anonymous source who has contact with an inmate has since claimed that “when they’re on the phone, I can hear them shivering", and described the situation as "inhumane.” The source alleged that the inmate they spoke to denied being given those extra resources to keep warm initially, claiming that clothes were only offered on Wednesday (December 14) with small heaters also distributed on the same day.
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They also claimed there has been no hot water in the affected wings for around three months, and the inmates have had to have “freezing” showers. In response, a prison service spokesperson said the claims "are categorically untrue", reiterating the measures taken to keep inmates warm and instead saying that the "infrequent loss of hot water has been caused by showers being left on and unattended by prisoners".
Speaking during the sub-zero temperatures last week, the source claimed the heater has taken “a little tiny bit of chill off the air, but that’s about it; it’s not hot or warm". After reading Bristol Live’s article about the prison’s heating problems last week, the source says they spoke to the inmate to ask if they had been given the amenities noted by HMP Bristol.
They said: “[I asked] 'Have they definitely not given you these items they’re saying?' And they said '100 per cent no’ and that it was a load of lies." The source described a lack of communication from the prison and a feeling of powerlessness to raise issues with the system.
They added: “I don’t think that they're looked after properly. I can’t do anything. I’ve done what I can do. I get that they're all in there for punishment - but there’s punishment, then there’s punishment, isn’t there.”
According to the prison, additional blankets and quilts for the inmates were supplied as soon as the prison became aware of the heating issue. The prison also said it had sourced additional small heaters for the affected wings. This statement contradicted claims made by our initial source, who asserted that inmates had not been given extra blankets and flasks of hot water, “just a letter through their door to say they're working on it”.
Bristol Live previously reported on the prison's intermittent heating in the same wings back in February. At that time, Bristol Live was told by a prison service spokesperson they were “working to urgently resolve intermittent heating issues at HMP Bristol".
Originally built in 1883, the prison in Horfield has had numerous additions, extensions and renovations since then. It is a category B local and resettlement prison holding male adults and young adults with a capacity of 520 prisoners who typically remain incarcerated there for less than 12 months.
In response to these more recent claims, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "These claims are categorically untrue. All prisoners in the affected wings have been given extra blankets, jumpers, flasks of hot water and small heaters while we urgently resolve the new heating issue.”
The prison asserts that when the heating issue was identified on November 24, additional blankets, quilts, jumpers and flasks of hot water were made available to prisoners on A and G wings on the same day and that an industrial hot air blower was later installed in G Wing on December 15.
HMP Bristol also explained that small heaters could not be distributed any sooner as they required PAT-testing, but there is now one in all cells in the affected wings. The MOJ spokesperson added: "It is not correct that prisoners have had to wash with cold water for the past three months. Infrequent loss of hot water has been caused by showers being left on and unattended by prisoners.
"We are working closely with manufacturers and specialist sub-contractors to urgently source and replace the faulty valve [causing the heating issues] as soon as possible."
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