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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/18/disgraceful-conditions-at-bedford-prison-fuelled-riot-watchdog-finds
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| Disgraceful conditions at Bedford prison fuelled riot, watchdog finds | Disgraceful conditions at Bedford prison fuelled riot, watchdog finds |
| (13 days later) | |
| A riot at Bedford prison that led to two wings being “totally trashed” was fuelled by frustration over “disgraceful conditions” including a failure to provide basic items such as soap, cleaning materials and toilet paper, an official watchdog has concluded. | A riot at Bedford prison that led to two wings being “totally trashed” was fuelled by frustration over “disgraceful conditions” including a failure to provide basic items such as soap, cleaning materials and toilet paper, an official watchdog has concluded. |
| The report by Bedford’s independent monitoring board says that before the riot in November 2016 prisoners were not being treated humanely and were being locked up for 23 hours a day, and that just 55 out of a complement of 110 officers were available for duty. | The report by Bedford’s independent monitoring board says that before the riot in November 2016 prisoners were not being treated humanely and were being locked up for 23 hours a day, and that just 55 out of a complement of 110 officers were available for duty. |
| The watchdog says the prisoners’ anger at being locked up for most of the day boiled over when they were let out on a Sunday afternoon. Prisoners armed themselves with improvised weapons, started fires and ransacked offices. | The watchdog says the prisoners’ anger at being locked up for most of the day boiled over when they were let out on a Sunday afternoon. Prisoners armed themselves with improvised weapons, started fires and ransacked offices. |
| Order was restored after six hours, leaving two wings “totally trashed with broken furniture, fittings and doors,” says the IMB report. “The segregation unit [was] severely attacked and most of the prisoner records stored there totally destroyed. It was a sad picture of devastation … Neatly handwritten notes were stuck to the walls saying: ‘This was caused by 23-hour lock-up. Peace,’ and ‘We need to be treated like human beings.’ The message was clear.” | Order was restored after six hours, leaving two wings “totally trashed with broken furniture, fittings and doors,” says the IMB report. “The segregation unit [was] severely attacked and most of the prisoner records stored there totally destroyed. It was a sad picture of devastation … Neatly handwritten notes were stuck to the walls saying: ‘This was caused by 23-hour lock-up. Peace,’ and ‘We need to be treated like human beings.’ The message was clear.” |
| It continues: “Whilst the issue of staffing levels was more deeply rooted and difficult to address quickly, the inability to supply, on a consistent basis, basic requirements such as toilet paper and cleaning materials, was simply shameful.” | It continues: “Whilst the issue of staffing levels was more deeply rooted and difficult to address quickly, the inability to supply, on a consistent basis, basic requirements such as toilet paper and cleaning materials, was simply shameful.” |
| The watchdog says it is a disgrace that prisoners had to wait for four weeks for letters to be sent home because there were no envelopes, and that new prisoners did not always have pillows. | The watchdog says it is a disgrace that prisoners had to wait for four weeks for letters to be sent home because there were no envelopes, and that new prisoners did not always have pillows. |
| The watchdog says there have been clear improvements in the running of Bedford prison since the riot nearly a year ago but there remain concerns about the underlying conditions, especially the need to develop a rehabilitative culture that would provide prisoners with hope. | The watchdog says there have been clear improvements in the running of Bedford prison since the riot nearly a year ago but there remain concerns about the underlying conditions, especially the need to develop a rehabilitative culture that would provide prisoners with hope. |
| The prison service said in a statement: “Transforming prisons into places of safety and reform is our top priority and we are tackling the challenges we face head-on.” | The prison service said in a statement: “Transforming prisons into places of safety and reform is our top priority and we are tackling the challenges we face head-on.” |
| Separately, the chair of the parole board, Prof Nick Hardwick, has highlighted to MPs a new “revolving door” affecting the 3,300 prisoners still serving the now abolished indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection. | Separately, the chair of the parole board, Prof Nick Hardwick, has highlighted to MPs a new “revolving door” affecting the 3,300 prisoners still serving the now abolished indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection. |
| He told the Commons select committee that 50% of IPP prisoners who were released had been recalled to prison for what he described as minor breaches to their licence conditions. | He told the Commons select committee that 50% of IPP prisoners who were released had been recalled to prison for what he described as minor breaches to their licence conditions. |
| Hardwick said 760 IPP prisoners had been recalled to prison in the past year because of licence breaches and 60% of them had subsequently been released again when the circumstances of their recalls were examined. | Hardwick said 760 IPP prisoners had been recalled to prison in the past year because of licence breaches and 60% of them had subsequently been released again when the circumstances of their recalls were examined. |
| He said recalls were now the biggest problem relating to IPPs. Figures show that more than 50% of the remaining IPP prisoners have served more than five years beyond their minimum tariff, and 15% have served more than eight years extra. | He said recalls were now the biggest problem relating to IPPs. Figures show that more than 50% of the remaining IPP prisoners have served more than five years beyond their minimum tariff, and 15% have served more than eight years extra. |
| The prisons minister, Sam Gyimah, said he agreed with a previous justice secretary that the IPP issue was “a stain on a system”, but said it was “a lawful sentence”. He told MPs that work was being done on the “revolving door” highlighted by the parole board chair. | The prisons minister, Sam Gyimah, said he agreed with a previous justice secretary that the IPP issue was “a stain on a system”, but said it was “a lawful sentence”. He told MPs that work was being done on the “revolving door” highlighted by the parole board chair. |
| He said an action plan to cut delays in considering the possible release of IPP prisoners was “bearing fruit”, but he reminded MPs that there would be a significant number of prisoners who may never be released because they continued to pose a risk to the public. He cited examples of unreformed paedophiles and arsonists as among those IPP prisoners who may not be released. | He said an action plan to cut delays in considering the possible release of IPP prisoners was “bearing fruit”, but he reminded MPs that there would be a significant number of prisoners who may never be released because they continued to pose a risk to the public. He cited examples of unreformed paedophiles and arsonists as among those IPP prisoners who may not be released. |
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