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Prisons inspector slates HMP Bedford as 'abject failure' over standards Prisons inspector slates HMP Bedford as 'abject failure' over standards
(about 11 hours later)
It is easier to get illegal drugs than to get clothes or sheets in Bedford prison, where standards have declined to “unacceptable levels”, according to the new chief inspector of prisons.It is easier to get illegal drugs than to get clothes or sheets in Bedford prison, where standards have declined to “unacceptable levels”, according to the new chief inspector of prisons.
Peter Clarke, the former head of police counter-terrorism, said it was hard to understand how there had been “such an abject failure” at Bedford jail, which has failed to implement 66 out of the 72 recommendations made by his predecessor in the last inspection in 2014. Peter Clarke, the former head of police counter-terrorism, said it was hard to understand how there had been “such an abject failure” at Bedford jail, which has failed to implement 60 out of the 72 recommendations made by his predecessor in the last inspection in 2014.
The chief inspector of prisons said the latest inspection this May found many prisoners living in crowded and cramped conditions, a dramatic increase in levels of self-harm, and the number of inmates saying they had developed a drug problem while they had been in the jail jumping from 4% to 14%.The chief inspector of prisons said the latest inspection this May found many prisoners living in crowded and cramped conditions, a dramatic increase in levels of self-harm, and the number of inmates saying they had developed a drug problem while they had been in the jail jumping from 4% to 14%.
The stark snapshot of deteriorating conditions inside a local category B prison holding 493 young adults and men comes as the justice secretary, Elizabeth Truss, prepares to reassure the Conservative party conference next week that the government intends to push ahead with a major prison-reform plan.The stark snapshot of deteriorating conditions inside a local category B prison holding 493 young adults and men comes as the justice secretary, Elizabeth Truss, prepares to reassure the Conservative party conference next week that the government intends to push ahead with a major prison-reform plan.
Clarke says in his inspection report, published on Tuesday, that “clearly neither local management nor the national offender management service accepted that action was taken” at Bedford, and “as a result, standards have declined to unacceptable levels.”Clarke says in his inspection report, published on Tuesday, that “clearly neither local management nor the national offender management service accepted that action was taken” at Bedford, and “as a result, standards have declined to unacceptable levels.”
He says that a “mere” three out of 17 recommendations in the key area of prison safety had been achieved. “Although the prison had good knowledge of where and when violent incidents were occurring, far too little was being done to analyse them and take effective action to reduce the violence.He says that a “mere” three out of 17 recommendations in the key area of prison safety had been achieved. “Although the prison had good knowledge of where and when violent incidents were occurring, far too little was being done to analyse them and take effective action to reduce the violence.
“The levels of self-harm among prisoners had increased dramatically since the last inspection, and despite the fact that there there had been [two] self-inflicted deaths, not all recommendations made by the prison and probation ombudsman had been embedded into practice.”“The levels of self-harm among prisoners had increased dramatically since the last inspection, and despite the fact that there there had been [two] self-inflicted deaths, not all recommendations made by the prison and probation ombudsman had been embedded into practice.”
The chief inspector says that the ready availability of new psychoactive substances was having a serious impact on safety as in so many other prisons, but there was no effective strategy in place to reduce the supply.The chief inspector says that the ready availability of new psychoactive substances was having a serious impact on safety as in so many other prisons, but there was no effective strategy in place to reduce the supply.
“Our survey showed that the number of prisoners saying it was easy or very easy to get drugs had almost doubled since the last inspection. The number saying that they had developed a drug problem while in HMP Bedford had risen from 4% to 14%. The stark reality is that prisoners told us it was easier to get illegal drugs in the prison than it was to get clothes or sheets.”“Our survey showed that the number of prisoners saying it was easy or very easy to get drugs had almost doubled since the last inspection. The number saying that they had developed a drug problem while in HMP Bedford had risen from 4% to 14%. The stark reality is that prisoners told us it was easier to get illegal drugs in the prison than it was to get clothes or sheets.”
The inspection found that hardly any cells contained enough furniture and almost all of it was damaged, graffiti was widespread, and the dirty, unscreened showers did not offer a basic level of decency.The inspection found that hardly any cells contained enough furniture and almost all of it was damaged, graffiti was widespread, and the dirty, unscreened showers did not offer a basic level of decency.
The inspectors found “a critical shortage of clothing with many prisoners having nothing but the clothing they stood up in. This had led to prisoners washing their own clothes, with damp clothing hanging on home-made washing lines in many cells.”The inspectors found “a critical shortage of clothing with many prisoners having nothing but the clothing they stood up in. This had led to prisoners washing their own clothes, with damp clothing hanging on home-made washing lines in many cells.”
Clarke said: “This is a disappointing report. It is hard to understand how such an abject failure to address our previous clear recommendations has been allowed to happen. As a result, standards in the prison have declined to unacceptable levels. I am not suggesting that staff at HMP Bedford are not working hard – they clearly were, and some important things had been put in place to improve things in the future.”Clarke said: “This is a disappointing report. It is hard to understand how such an abject failure to address our previous clear recommendations has been allowed to happen. As a result, standards in the prison have declined to unacceptable levels. I am not suggesting that staff at HMP Bedford are not working hard – they clearly were, and some important things had been put in place to improve things in the future.”
He said there had been four people fulfilling the role of governor at Bedford since the last inspection in 2014 but, while responsibility lay mainly with the governor, there also had to be effective oversight at a national and regional level.He said there had been four people fulfilling the role of governor at Bedford since the last inspection in 2014 but, while responsibility lay mainly with the governor, there also had to be effective oversight at a national and regional level.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said safety in prisons was fundamental to the proper functioning of the justice system and a vital part of the government’s reform plans.A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said safety in prisons was fundamental to the proper functioning of the justice system and a vital part of the government’s reform plans.
“There are a number of factors, including the availability of psychoactive substances, that must be tackled. From today we are rolling out mandatory nationwide testing of synthetic drugs, which will help to end the flow of these dangerous drugs into our prisons.“There are a number of factors, including the availability of psychoactive substances, that must be tackled. From today we are rolling out mandatory nationwide testing of synthetic drugs, which will help to end the flow of these dangerous drugs into our prisons.
“The secretary of state is determined to make sure our prisons are safe and places of reform and will announce further measures this autumn.”“The secretary of state is determined to make sure our prisons are safe and places of reform and will announce further measures this autumn.”
Frances Crook of the Howard League for Penal Reform, commented: “The great reformer, John Howard, was so shocked by what he saw inside Bedford prison in the 1770s that he embarked on a personal quest to improve conditions in jails across the country and beyond. Today’s report reveals that, almost 250 years later, Bedford prison is still failing prisoners and still failing the public.”Frances Crook of the Howard League for Penal Reform, commented: “The great reformer, John Howard, was so shocked by what he saw inside Bedford prison in the 1770s that he embarked on a personal quest to improve conditions in jails across the country and beyond. Today’s report reveals that, almost 250 years later, Bedford prison is still failing prisoners and still failing the public.”
• This article was amended on 27 September 2016. An earlier version incorrectly stated that HMP Bedford had failed to enact 66 of 72 recommendations. It failed to enact 60 of them. This has been corrected