Location Ashford, Surrey Security class Adult Female/Juvenile Phone +44 1784 425690 Opened 2004 | Status Operational Director Ian Whiteside Capacity 527 | |
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Managed by Sodexo Justice Services Address Woodthorpe Rd, Shepperton, Ashford TW15 3JZ, UK Similar HMP Coldingley, H M Prison, Spurgeons, Broadmoor Hospital, Colnbrook Immigrati Removal | ||
HMP Bronzefield is a Category A adult and young offender female's 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.
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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 inmates who are taking part of 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 approx 140 prison custody officers which has 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 inpatient 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.
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".