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HM Prison Ashfield

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Coordinates: 51°28′53″N 2°26′23″W / 51.4815°N 2.4397°W / 51.4815; -2.4397
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HM Prison Ashfield
Map
LocationPucklechurch, South Gloucestershire
Coordinates51°28′53″N 2°26′23″W / 51.4815°N 2.4397°W / 51.4815; -2.4397
StatusOperational
Security classAdult Male/Category C
Capacity412 (Oct 2017)[1]
Opened1999
Managed bySerco
GovernorJon Bratt

HM Prison Ashfield (formerly Pucklechurch Remand Centre) is an adult male sex offenders prison located in the village of Pucklechurch (near Bristol), in South Gloucestershire, England. The prison is operated by Serco. From 1999 to 2013 it housed young offenders, before being converted to a prison for adults.

History

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Pucklechurch Remand Centre

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The prison stands on the site of a former Royal Air Force facility, RAF Pucklechurch. This was transferred to HM Prison Service in September 1962, and the site used for the construction of a remand centre, which opened as Pucklechurch Remand Centre in 1965. It was further expanded in 1978.[2] The centre was destroyed in a riot in 1990.[3][4]

Ashfield Prison

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Ashfield Prison was built on the site of the remand centre, and opened in 1999. It was the first private prison in the United Kingdom to house young offenders. The prison was soon mired in controversy after repeated riots and reports of poor management. Conditions at the prison became so bad in 2003 that the Youth Justice Board withdrew prisoners from Ashfield, and threatened to recommend that the prison should be taken over by the public sector.[5] Conditions improved however, and the prison (under new management) was given a good inspection report the following year.[6]

In 2006, staff at Ashfield won a Health team award from the Public Servants of the Year Awards. The award was made in recognition of the staff's dedication to improving healthcare and personal health education for inmates held at Ashfield.[7]

In March 2008, a new wing for first-time offenders was opened at Ashfield. The wing was designed to create a positive environment for new inmates, and also has amenities for prisoners aged 15 and 16.[8]

In 2013 an inspection report that concluded offenders were "exposed to unacceptable levels of violence", including bones broken after the use of force by staff.[9] Ashfield was converted to an adult male prison for sex offenders from July 2013 and a Treatment site from 2014.[10]

In 2024 Serco was awarded a new contract after competitive tendering, to operate the prison for a further 10 years with an expiry of 31st October 2034

Notable former inmates

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References

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  1. ^ "HMP Ashfield stands out as a high performing prison". Independent Monitoring Boards. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. ^ John Penny. "A short history of No.11 Balloon Centre at Pucklechurch 1939 to 1945 and R.A.F. Station Pucklechurch 1945 to 1959" (PDF). Fishponds Local History Society. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Sex offenders' prison will open near Bristol in July". Bristol Post Online. 19 April 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Pucklechurch Remand Centre: Disturbances". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 23 April 1990. HL Deb vol 518 cc318-26. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  5. ^ "UK | England | Youngsters removed from 'worst' jail". BBC News. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Information and results for 'Inspectors find "significant improvement" at PFI prison.(Ashfield PFI youth offenders institution)' | AccessMyLibrary - Promoting library advocacy". AccessMyLibrary. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  7. ^ "UK | England | Bristol/Somerset | Young offender team wins award". BBC News. 24 May 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  8. ^ "UK | England | Bristol/Somerset | New wing open to young offenders". BBC News. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Ashfield YOI inmates 'had bones broken by staff'". BBC. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Pucklechurch sex offenders jail 'due in July'". BBC. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  11. ^ Churchill, Laura (27 August 2018). "9 of Bristol's most notorious and famous prison inmates". BristolLive. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
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