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Police called in after 'unrest' at HMP Bedford Police dealing with 'unrest' at Category B prison HMP Bedford
(35 minutes later)
Police officers are assisting guards at HMP Bedford following reports of "unrest" at the Category B prison, Bedfordshire Police say. Police officers are assisting guards at HMP Bedford following reports of a riot at the Category B prison.
Ambulance and fire services are also on stand-by after reports inmates have taken over parts of the facility. Police were called at about 17:00 GMT and ambulance and fire services are also on stand-by amid reports inmates have taken over parts of the facility.
"We are clear that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished and could spend significantly longer behind bars," said a Prison Service spokesman."We are clear that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished and could spend significantly longer behind bars," said a Prison Service spokesman.
No casualties have yet been reported, according to the ambulance service.
Bedfordshire Police said officers were sent following reports of "unrest" and were "working with prison staff to resolve the issue."
The ambulance service said it had two crews on stand-by along with the hazardous area response team.
'Unacceptable'
In a report on HMP Bedford published in September, inmates claimed it was easier to get hold of drugs than clothes or bedding, with almost twice the number of prisoners saying it was "easy" to access drugs, compared to a previous inspection in February 2014.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons also discovered incidents of self-harm had almost doubled from 67 to 121.
The report found that of 72 recommendations made after the prison was last inspected more than two years earlier, only 12 had been achieved and four partially achieved.
It also said the use of drugs previously known as "legal highs" was having a "serious impact" on safety at the prison.
Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, wrote: "Standards in the prison have declined to unacceptable levels."
The prison held just under 500 male prisoners at the time of the inspection.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said after the report was published Bedford was "a good example of everything that is wrong with the prison system".