Bedford inspection report 2024

Summary

At the last inspection of this inner-city Victorian jail we reported on improvements after we had previously issued an Urgent Notification in 2019. I am disappointed to report that at this inspection we found that standards had fallen badly: our four healthy prison tests rated the jail as poor for safety, respect and purposeful activity, and not sufficiently good in preparation for release. The governor, who had been in post since January, had a reasonable understanding of the many challenges facing the jail. She was dealing with some complex personnel issues and as a result, was in the process of rebuilding her leadership team. She was, however, not visible enough around the prison where standards of cleanliness on wings and in cells had worsened considerably since our last inspection. On this visit we found filthy floors and serveries that compounded the overcrowded conditions in which most prisoners were held, while many cells had broken furniture, windows and were covered graffiti.

Inspection ratings

Findings

Priority concerns

Very high violence, high self-harm, excessive use of force, overcrowding, prolonged lock-up, dirty wings, rats and cockroaches, broken windows, mould and a squalid segregation unit.

Other key concerns

Safety; living conditions; staff culture; purposeful activity; overcrowding; urgent notification concerns.

Progress since the previous inspection

The inspection triggered an Urgent Notification, the second for HMP Bedford.