Bedford Prison makes 'fragile' improvement progress

A prison found to be infested with rats has improved - but a new inspection has found there is still more work to be done.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor wrote in November 2023 that inmates at Bedford Prison were violent and often housed in mouldy and graffiti-covered cells, with broken windows.

In a new report Mr Taylor found that of the eight areas of concern that were assessed, six had made reasonably good or better progress - while two remained insufficient.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "The report rightly notes improvements at Bedford, including a reduction in levels of self-harm and the renovation of accommodation."

"The high rate of violence and poor living conditions is why this Government took immediate action to end the overcrowding crisis engulfing our jails - to ensure prisons create better citizens and not better criminals,” they added.

After the previous inspection, Mr Taylor wrote to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk in November to issue an urgent notification for improvement.

The inspection found tat standards had improved thanks to more visible senior leaders around the prison.

It also found drop-in surgeries held by the safety team had "given prisoners a voice" and helped resolve issues before they became big problems.

While assaults against staff had reduced, the number remained high and levels of violence between prisoners had increased in the six months before the inspection.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons had dubbed conditions at the Victorian jail as "some of the worst he had seen" but noted progress had been made to improve living conditions at the site.

Repairs had taken place but inspectors found windows still needed repairing and some communal areas had not been deep cleaned.

Though work had taken place to eliminate cockroaches they were still present on many prison wings, with inmates plugging holes to stop the insects entering cells, inspectors found.

Graffiti had been reduced and there had been "notable improvement" on deep-rooted damp problems.

The inspection found safety standards had also improved thanks to more visible senior leaders around the prison.

However, several issues had contributed to a continued lack of safety at the prison such as the use of illicit drugs and a failure to challenge low-level poor behaviour, such as vaping.

Reasonable progress was found in suicide and self harm prevention, fair treatment and inclusion - and how inmates were cared for in their early days at the prison.

Following a second visit, Mr Taylor said: "It was clear that the new governor and deputy governor were taking the concerns raised at the last inspection seriously, but they acknowledged there was still much to do.

"Progress was fragile and they will require extensive ongoing support from HMPPS to make the sustainable improvements the prison needs."

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