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Independent investigation conducted into the serious assault on ‘AD’

(updated March 2021)

The report of the independent investigation conducted by Rob Allen into the serious assault on ‘AD’ at HMP Bristol on 26 June 2014 is published here.

Allegations about the actions of the senior manager in HM Prison and Probation Service responsible for overseeing a previous internal investigation into the incident were made in evidence given to Mr Allen.

An independent investigation of these allegations was commissioned from Dale Simon CBE, who reached the conclusion that they were unfounded, and her report is also published here. 

The responses to the recommendations in the two reports are made available, together with a letter setting out further information about the Brunel unit at the prison, prepared in response to Mr Allen’s recommendation for further public scrutiny in this case.

On 26 June 2014 ‘AD’ was seriously assaulted by another prisoner on an exercise yard at HMP Bristol, sustaining serious injuries that have left him requiring full-time medical care.  The assault was referred to, and investigated, by the police. 

The perpetrator was charged with and pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of ‘AD.’  He also admitted another offence, for which he had been remanded at the time of the assault on ‘AD’.

He was sentenced to a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 with a restriction order under section 41 of the MHA, and remains in a secure hospital. 

In order to meet the State’s investigative obligation under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Rob Allen, former Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies at Kings College London, was commissioned to conduct an independent investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the serious assault on ‘AD’ and to see what lessons can be learned.