HMP Bronzefield is a Category A adult and young offender female prison located on the outskirts of Ashford in Surrey, England. Bronzefield is the only purpose-built private prison solely for women in the UK, and is the largest female prison in Europe. The prison is operated by Sodexo Justice Services.
Video HM Prison Bronzefield
History
Bronzefield Prison was opened in June 2004 as the UK's new top security prison for women.
Since its opening Bronzefield has been the subject of media coverage, most notably about well-known prisoners, its supposedly lax regime, high staff turnover and continued extremely poor industrial relations.
In 2009, a 77-bed unit was built on the existing site, taking the operational capacity up to 527. Plans also exist to further expand the prison to include a male section along the lines of HMP Peterborough (also run by Sodexo Justice Services) making it a dual prison holding males and females.
In 2012 it was reported that Bronzefield was the first prison in the UK to have its own branch of the Women's Institute. The branch is for members of staff and for inmates who are taking part in resettlement programmes ahead of their release.
HM Prison Bronzefield is currently one of only two prisons to house Category A prisoners in the female estate (female and juvenile category-A prisoners are called "restricted status" prisoners). The prison is staffed by about 140 prison custody officers, in a ratio of 50% female and 50% male officers. Bronzefield is also a local prison, taking prisoners directly from the courts. Bronzefield holds a wide range of female offenders, including remand, sentenced and restricted status women.
Accommodation at Bronzefield is divided into four main residential units, each holding approximately 135 women. The prison also has a 12-bed Mother and Baby Unit, accommodating children up to 18 months old. Bronzefield has a Level 4 Healthcare provision with in-patient facilities for 18 women, as well as a smaller 10-bed Help & Direction Unit.
Bronzefield offers full-time education courses including Art, ESOL and Information Technology. There are also workshops in Cleaning Science and Arts and Crafts.
Maps HM Prison Bronzefield
Inspections
A 2013 report by the chief inspector of prisons praised the institution for its efforts to tackle alcohol problems and self-harm, improvements in health care, and its induction, first night in prison and reception facilities, since however structures in staffing and management have changed these procedures. The report condemned their segregation practices, in particular for keeping a prisoner in segregation for five years in bad conditions, treatment which "appears to amount to torture".
Notable inmates
Current
- Roshonara Choudhry
- Joanna Dennehy
- Shauna Hoare
- Mairead Philpott
- Jayda Fransen
Former
- Donna Anthony
- Tracey Connelly
- Farah Damji
- Sabina Eriksson
- Karen Matthews
- Rosemary West
References
External links
- Ministry of Justice pages on Bronzefield
- Sodexo Justice Services information page on Bronzefield
- HMP Bronzefield - HM Inspectorate of Prisons Reports
Source of article : Wikipedia
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