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A–D category: Not yet verified.
Predominant function (2025/26): Reception
Ministry of Justice performance classification. This describes the stated performance year, not a current A–D category or the categories of every prisoner.
Monthly snapshot: 24 August 2026
Operational capacity is the capacity reported for this prison in the same monthly bulletin.
Official monthly spreadsheet · Ministry of Justice publication
Prison site location
View on the prisons map
Location information checked 13 September 2026.
22 October 2024
Inspectors returning to HMP Bedford found tentative progress, following a shocking inspection in 2023 which led the Chief Inspector to invoke the Urgent Notification protocol for the second time at the prison. However, they warned there was still much more to do to break its…
14 February 2024
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…
17 November 2023
Urgent Notification letter, issued on 15 November 2023. Debriefing paper for the inspection of HMP Bedford by HM Inspectorate of Prisons 30 October – 9 November 2023 This paper represents the material presented at the full inspection debrief by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The material…
8 June 2022
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…
21 April 2021
The important focus on rehabilitation and release planning to reduce reoffending and improve successful resettlement had largely been lost at the start of the pandemic. While the offender management unit maintained its focus on completing essential tasks linked to progression, face-toface support was rare. The…
13 September 2018
Peter Clarke CVO OBE QPM November 2018 HM Chief Inspector of Prisons 6 HMP Bedford Fact page Fact page Task of the establishment HMP Bedford is a local category B and resettlement prison for young adult and adult males. Certified normal accommodation and operational capacity1…
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