Inspectors found the regime at the Devon jail was curtailed more than 80% of the time without leaders knowing, and rated purposeful activity poor. The prison has since closed temporarily for radon-related works.
An inspection report on HMP Leyhill, published in September 2023, found a calm, respectful open prison with good release planning, but a regime of work and education that had fallen sharply short.
In July 2023 the Chief Inspector of Prisons used the Urgent Notification process at HMP Bristol for the second time in four years, citing violence, self-inflicted deaths and drugs.
The inspectorate's report on HMP Exeter, published in February 2023, found high self-harm, chaotic induction and unstable leadership, and led the Chief Inspector of Prisons to issue a second urgent notification.
The inspectorate's report on HMP & YOI Eastwood Park, published in February 2023, gave the women's prison its lowest safety grade after finding rising self-harm, acute staff shortages and appalling conditions on one unit.
In November 2022 the Chief Inspector of Prisons issued an urgent notification on HMP Exeter for the second inspection running, citing self-inflicted deaths, record self-harm and unstable leadership.
The inspectorate's report on HMP & YOI Portland, published in November 2022, praised an impressive turnaround under new leadership but warned of rising self-harm, stretched mental health services and too little full-time work.
The Devon training prison improved in three of four areas since 2018, inspectors found, but newly arrived vulnerable men were placed in dirty cells and faced alleged violence and intimidation.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons' report on HMP Guys Marsh, published in October 2022, found the Dorset prison had got men back into work quickly after the pandemic, but violence and drugs remained serious problems.
The inspectorate's report on HMP & YOI Erlestoke, published in December 2021, found rising violence, high self-harm and slipping standards, with the prison graded not sufficiently good in all four areas.
