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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/13/prisons-inspector-takes-emergency-action-over-hmp-bedford
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| Prisons inspector takes emergency action over HMP Bedford | Prisons inspector takes emergency action over HMP Bedford |
| (14 days later) | |
| The chief inspector of prisons has taken emergency action over dire conditions at HMP Bedford as the jails crisis in England and Wales escalates. | The chief inspector of prisons has taken emergency action over dire conditions at HMP Bedford as the jails crisis in England and Wales escalates. |
| Peter Clarke invoked the urgent notification protocol for the prison after inspectors found high levels of violence and inexperienced staff struggling to maintain control. He said standards had been declining unchecked for nine years. | Peter Clarke invoked the urgent notification protocol for the prison after inspectors found high levels of violence and inexperienced staff struggling to maintain control. He said standards had been declining unchecked for nine years. |
| The protocol requires the justice secretary, David Gauke, to draw up an action plan within 28 days to turn the prison around. | The protocol requires the justice secretary, David Gauke, to draw up an action plan within 28 days to turn the prison around. |
| Bedford, a small jail with a high turnover of prisoners staying for short periods, had a major outbreak of violence in November 2016. A large number of prisoners were subsequently removed, but in May this year the inspectorate found Bedford was making insufficient progress and it was placed in special measures. A further inspection on 6 September revealed continuing problems. | Bedford, a small jail with a high turnover of prisoners staying for short periods, had a major outbreak of violence in November 2016. A large number of prisoners were subsequently removed, but in May this year the inspectorate found Bedford was making insufficient progress and it was placed in special measures. A further inspection on 6 September revealed continuing problems. |
| In his letter to Gauke, Clarke wrote: “The clear view of the inspectorate is that immediate and decisive intervention is needed at HMP Bedford to avert further decline and an even more dangerous lack of control than is currently the case. | In his letter to Gauke, Clarke wrote: “The clear view of the inspectorate is that immediate and decisive intervention is needed at HMP Bedford to avert further decline and an even more dangerous lack of control than is currently the case. |
| “It is of great concern that for seven years the prison has been on a path of seemingly inexorable decline. Repeated inspection findings clearly show that this has been the case. For much of that time there was a marked inconsistency in the leadership of the prison, with frequent changes of governor.” | “It is of great concern that for seven years the prison has been on a path of seemingly inexorable decline. Repeated inspection findings clearly show that this has been the case. For much of that time there was a marked inconsistency in the leadership of the prison, with frequent changes of governor.” |
| Among the findings were very high levels of violence, as the rate of assaults had risen significantly since the 2016 inspection. Bedford is second only to HMP Birmingham in its levels of violence. Assaults on staff were the highest in the country. | Among the findings were very high levels of violence, as the rate of assaults had risen significantly since the 2016 inspection. Bedford is second only to HMP Birmingham in its levels of violence. Assaults on staff were the highest in the country. |
| Three-quarters (77%) of available officers in the prison had less than a year’s service and there was a corresponding lack of experience at all levels, the inspectorate found. | Three-quarters (77%) of available officers in the prison had less than a year’s service and there was a corresponding lack of experience at all levels, the inspectorate found. |
| One prisoner in five said they had acquired a drug habit since entering the jail, and the smell of cannabis and other drugs being smoked pervaded some of the wings. | One prisoner in five said they had acquired a drug habit since entering the jail, and the smell of cannabis and other drugs being smoked pervaded some of the wings. |
| The prison was overcrowded and infested with rats and cockroaches, the inspectors found, and there was little purposeful activity for inmates. | The prison was overcrowded and infested with rats and cockroaches, the inspectors found, and there was little purposeful activity for inmates. |
| Bedford is the fourth prison to be subject to the urgent notification protocol, after Exeter, Nottingham and Birmingham, which was temporarily taken from its private operator, G4S, and returned to state control. | Bedford is the fourth prison to be subject to the urgent notification protocol, after Exeter, Nottingham and Birmingham, which was temporarily taken from its private operator, G4S, and returned to state control. |
| Mark Day, the head of policy and communications at the Prison Reform Trust, said: “As in many other local establishments, the churn of prisoners entering and leaving the prison has been matched by the high turnover of burnt-out governors and inexperienced staff. The government cannot allow this to become the new normal.” | Mark Day, the head of policy and communications at the Prison Reform Trust, said: “As in many other local establishments, the churn of prisoners entering and leaving the prison has been matched by the high turnover of burnt-out governors and inexperienced staff. The government cannot allow this to become the new normal.” |
| The prisons minister, Rory Stewart, said: “Bedford prison faces serious challenges. We placed it in special measures before the inspection was conducted and we are bringing in senior experienced managers. | The prisons minister, Rory Stewart, said: “Bedford prison faces serious challenges. We placed it in special measures before the inspection was conducted and we are bringing in senior experienced managers. |
| “Our focus will be on reducing violence and drugs along with supporting our prison officers to turn Bedford around. It is abundantly clear that further action is needed. I am grateful to the chief inspector for his work.” | “Our focus will be on reducing violence and drugs along with supporting our prison officers to turn Bedford around. It is abundantly clear that further action is needed. I am grateful to the chief inspector for his work.” |
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