Bedford inspection report 2022

Summary

In 2018, the to the HMP Bedford inspection report described a prison on a “seemingly inexorable decline that is evident through the results of the four inspections carried out since 2009.” At that time, the healthy prison tests scores were amongst the lowest ever awarded by the Inspectorate and my predecessor invoked the Urgent Notification process. We returned to inspect the prison in February 2022 and I am pleased to report that the decline had been arrested and real progress had been made against our tests, with a one-point increase in each. Huge credit for this transformation must go to the governor, who took over a prison that was dangerous, understaffed and dilapidated. Over the last three years he had developed a vision for the prison, alongside clear plans for improvement that he and his team had pursued relentlessly. The prison’s self-assessment report showed that leaders maintained an accurate understanding of the state of the prison and that they had priorities in place supported by refreshingly clear plans, targets, and measures of progress. These priorities were communicated and understood by staff on the wing and by prisoners.

Inspection ratings

Findings

Priority concerns

Violence remained very high and conditions remained unacceptable in parts of the prison, particularly on A and B wings.

Other key concerns

Violence; living conditions; body-worn camera use during incidents; overrepresentation of under-25s in poor behaviour and violence.

Notable positive practice

HMIP identified 16 examples of notable positive practice and noted strong leadership, improved culture and work to improve experiences of black and minority ethnic prisoners.

Progress since the previous inspection

The prison was judged to be moving in a positive direction, but with significant remaining concerns.