Misconduct at HMP Berwyn

 

Misconduct at HMP Berwyn (2017 – April 2025)

Suspensions, dismissals, and criminal cases involving prison officers

Since opening in 2017, HMP Berwyn—one of the largest prisons in the UK—has faced ongoing scrutiny over staff misconduct.

Although there is no officially published total for how many officers have been suspended, a combination of court cases, media reporting, and Freedom of Information data reveals a consistent pattern of disciplinary issues, particularly involving inappropriate relationships between staff and inmates.

This article brings together the known facts and cases to provide a clearer picture of what has happened at Berwyn since it opened.

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Overview of misconduct cases

From 2017 up to April 2025:

At least 18 staff members have been dismissed or resigned due to misconduct

Several officers have been convicted in court and sent to prison

The most common issue is inappropriate or sexual relationships with inmates

Other issues include:

Sharing personal contact details

Smuggling or attempting to smuggle contraband

Failing to maintain professional boundaries

It is important to understand that in most serious cases, staff are suspended first while investigations take place, meaning the real number of suspensions is likely higher than the number of dismissals, even though exact figures are not publicly released.

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How the disciplinary process usually works

In prisons like HMP Berwyn, allegations of misconduct generally follow a standard process:

1. A concern or allegation is raised

2. The officer is removed from duty (suspended)

3. An internal investigation begins

4. Outcomes may include:

No further action

Formal warning

Dismissal or resignation

Criminal charges

Because of this process, many officers linked to misconduct cases will have been suspended at some stage, even if reports only mention dismissal or conviction.

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Confirmed individual cases

Below are some of the most widely reported and confirmed cases involving officers at HMP Berwyn.

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Emily Watson

Outcome: Imprisoned

Reason: Misconduct in public office

Details:

Emily Watson developed an inappropriate relationship with a prisoner while working at HMP Berwyn. This included personal communication outside of work and a sexual relationship.

The court found that she had abused her position of authority and compromised prison security. Her actions were considered a serious breach of trust, leading to a custodial sentence.

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Ruth Shmylo

Outcome: Imprisoned

Reason: Intimate relationship with an inmate

Details:

Ruth Shmylo admitted to forming a relationship with a prisoner. Investigators uncovered evidence of communication that crossed clear professional boundaries.

Her case became one of several that highlighted a pattern of inappropriate relationships at the prison. She was convicted and sentenced accordingly.

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Charlotte Hughes

Outcome: Imprisoned

Reason: Sexual relationship with prisoner

Details:

Charlotte Hughes engaged in a prohibited relationship with an inmate under her supervision.

The case contributed to increasing concern about staff conduct at Berwyn, particularly regarding boundary violations between officers and prisoners.

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Additional cases (names not always made public)

Beyond the named cases above, many other officers have faced disciplinary action. In several instances, identities were not released publicly, but the nature of misconduct followed similar patterns.

Common types of misconduct included:

Emotional or sexual relationships with prisoners

Exchanging phone numbers or social media details

Sending or receiving messages outside official channels

Providing prisoners with unauthorised items

Turning a blind eye to rule-breaking behaviour

In many of these cases:

Officers resigned before disciplinary hearings concluded, or

Were dismissed internally without criminal prosecution

This means the true scale of misconduct is likely underrepresented in court records alone.

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The role of suspension

Although exact figures are not published, suspension plays a key role in these cases.

What we know:

Suspension is a standard first step in serious misconduct investigations

It is used to:

Protect the integrity of the investigation

Prevent further risk داخل the prison

Maintain order and safety

What we don’t know:

The total number of officers suspended since 2017

How many suspensions resulted in:

Dismissal

Resignation

Return to duty

However, given the number of confirmed misconduct cases, it is highly likely that dozens of suspensions have taken place, even though only a portion led to public outcomes.

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Why HMP Berwyn has faced repeated issues

Several factors have been suggested to explain why misconduct cases have occurred at this scale:

1. A newly opened, large-scale prison

HMP Berwyn is one of the UK’s largest prisons, and when it opened, it required a large number of newly recruited staff, many with limited experience.

2. Staff inexperience

A less experienced workforce may be more vulnerable to:

Manipulation by inmates

Emotional involvement

Poor boundary management

3. Modern communication risks

The rise of:

Smartphones

Social media

Messaging apps

has made it easier for inappropriate contact to develop outside official supervision.

4. Complex prisoner population

Managing a large and diverse inmate population increases:

Pressure on staff

Risk of boundary breakdown

Opportunities for inappropriate relationships

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Patterns across the cases

When looking at the cases collectively, several clear patterns emerge:

Boundary crossing is often gradual, starting with casual conversation

Relationships frequently move from friendly to inappropriate over time

Contact often continues outside the prison environment

Many officers involved are relatively new to the role

Cases often only come to light after:

Phone checks

Intelligence reports

Internal investigations

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Impact on the prison system

These cases have wider consequences beyond the individuals involved:

Security risks: Relationships can lead to contraband smuggling or intelligence leaks

Damage to trust: Public confidence in prison staff is affected

Operational strain: Investigations and staff shortages impact daily operations

Increased scrutiny: More oversight from authorities and media

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Final summary

Since opening in 2017, HMP Berwyn has experienced:

At least 18 confirmed cases of staff dismissed or resigning due to misconduct

Multiple criminal convictions, with some officers jailed

A consistent pattern of inappropriate relationships with prisoners

Key point:

The exact number of suspensions is not publicly available

But given standard procedures, many more officers will have been suspended than ultimately dismissed or convicted

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Closing thoughts

The situation at HMP Berwyn highlights a broader issue within modern prisons: maintaining professional boundaries in a challenging and evolving environment.

While the number of confirmed cases is significant, the lack of transparency around suspensions means the full scale of the issue remains unclear.

What is clear, however, is that most cases follow a similar path:

Initial boundary crossing

Escalation into misconduct

Investigation, suspension, and eventual outcome

Understanding these patterns is key to preventing future incidents.