The family of a 27-year-old prison guard who committed suicide say they’re disappointed an inquest into his death didn’t order action be taken at his place of employment.
Calvin Bishop died in his Holbeach home on March 28, 2024, just hours after his long term partner had told him their relationship was over.
An inquest into his death at Lincoln Coroner’s Court heard that he’d suffered mental health problems after three inmates attacked him at his workplace, HMP Whitemoor, near March in Cambridgeshire, in August 2023.
All three were serving life terms and had at least three years added on to the sentence as a result of the ABH and assaulting an emergency worker charges.
They remained at the ‘Category A’ prison which is for some of the most dangerous prisoners.
A statement from Calvin’s family, many of whom attended the inquest, said that they believe his death came ‘around two days’ before the main protagonist, Ralique Young, was to be allowed out of segregation.
Young was jailed in 2018 aged 17 for his part in murdering a boy in south London.
Though not at HMP Whitemoor at the time of the incidents, its current governor Aidy Jones, told the hearing of the measures staff made to keep Young from Calvin who was struggling with stress and anxiety.
He denied a claim by Calvin’s ex partner that she had emails he’d sent when in the same room as some of his attackers.
When asked why prisoners were not being transferred, Gov Jones said: “We have to be mindful that if they don’t want to be in the establishment, they could behave negatively in order to get a transfer.
“If we transferred every person they’d use it as a mechanism to move to a prison of their choice.
“It’s not ideal but we hold on to prisoners as we don’t want misbehaviour to allow them to move on to a prison of choice.”
Calvin’s dad Andrew Bishop told the hearing his son had said others had been moved elsewhere: “They were killers and Calvin was being put into a position where they were taking the mickey out of him every day.
“He had to deal with that.”
Gov Jones responded that he understood Calvin had been placed in roles that were mostly not ‘prisoner facing’ and he didn’t hear anything personally and had been told by his peers about mickey taking.
“It’s not an easy job,” he continued. “You deal with some of the most difficult prisoners in the country.
“You need that edge to do it and Calvin had that.”
He also told of ways the prison supported Calvin, but accepted there had been ‘shortcomings’ in recording contact with him as he spent periods in and out of work in the time between the assault and his death.
“It wasn’t just Calvin, there are others where the record-keeping guidance wasn’t followed,” Gov Jones said. “It’s something I’ve worked on since coming in.
“It’s not fully fixed but is much improved.”
Gov Jones said Calvin was waiting for an occupational health survey to be carried out at the time of his death but he had been classed as fit to return to to work.
“Of the individuals I spoke to there was no indication there was a decline in mental health or suggestion he would take his own life,” he said. “He told his line manager on the day of his death he was ‘ok’ and was set to come to work.”
It was not mentioned in the inquest that Calvin had accepted a job offer with Cambridgeshire Police prior to his death.
The inquest heard he was found dead on March 28 last year at home by a family member after concerns were raised over his mental state.
It followed his partner since July 2020 and mother to his child informing him their relationship was over.
Following concerns raised by Calvin’s family, Lincolnshire Police had investigated, but found no evidence of there being controlling and coercive behaviour in the relationship.
Mr Bishop told the hearing the break up was a ‘tipping point’ around ‘what was going on in the background’.
A statement read out on behalf of Calvin’s family said: “Calvin was a loving, family orientated person who cared deeply for others and who loved nothing more than spending time with the people he loved.
“He committed himself to working hard for his family and renovating his first home.
“Calvin was unable to speak about events and didn’t feel supported.
“He was made to feel he was part of the problem.”
After the hearing the family spoke of their pride at Calvin’s work.
“We’re unhappy the coroner didn’t make recommendations to improve mental health care at the prison and provide greater support for staff, especially those that have been the victims of assault.”
