Prison
Cat B, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Bedford
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 27 November 2024
HMP Bedford, a Category B YOI, continues to face significant challenges including persistent overcrowding and an inconsistent induction process, despite some improvements in wing cleanliness and key worker implementation. The report highlights serious concerns regarding healthcare, characterized by poor communication and a decline in drug rehabilitation services. Security remains an issue with illicit items readily entering the prison, and high levels of assaults on staff, although recent improvements are noted. The Board also raises concerns about the unaddressed needs of its large remand population, the lack of digital infrastructure, and disproportionate adjudications.
Positive Findings
The Board notes some success in addressing high self-harm rates and significant progress in implementing the key worker scheme. Improvements in wing cleanliness, gym availability, and the relocation of the CSU are welcomed. Reception processes are praised for professionalism, and the chaplaincy team provides much-needed support and compassion. Positive trends in complaints reduction and property management are also noted, alongside improved time out of cell and prisoners' reported hope for the future. The Board also found positive aspects around the provision of education and the well-managed library.
Key Concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The induction process is haphazard and limited in its effectiveness. In our prisoners’ voice survey, 38% said that they had not received an induction and 35% of those who had received one said that it was of a poor quality.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The prison remains overcrowded with, in the majority of instances, two men sharing a small cell and toilet, which the Board considers inhumane. The condition of some cells is shocking, with no curtains or, sometimes, bits of plastic or old blankets at the windows. Also, the cells are often not properly cleaned in between occupants. Ongoing problems with the water and heating systems and the ever-present issue of rodents, cockroaches and pigeon droppings persist.
Healthcare
Repeated
There is a lack of effective communication between healthcare and prisoners, leading to frustration and missed appointments; 75% of prisoners we asked felt that the healthcare service was poor and slow.
Substance Misuse
Group and individual work to support drug rehabilitation is no longer carried out and, in our view, the service is worse that it has been in previous years.
Substance Misuse
It does not appear difficult for drugs and other illicit items to get into the prison: on average, there is at least one find every day.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Although, in the Board’s view, prisoners still spend too much time locked in their cells, with around half spending over 20 hours per day in their cell.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The project to relocate the segregation unit was beset by design and construction issues and was delivered some 18 months late. The design decisions seem bizarre, with issues like shelves for kettles located on the opposite wall from the only socket, observation lights without outside switches, and the dirty protest cell next to the kitchen servery, suggesting basic flaws in understanding how prisons work and a lack of consultation.
Equality/Diversity
The number of black, Asian, other ethnic minority prisoners and those from the Traveller community are significantly over-represented in adjudications, raising concerns about potential conscious or unconscious discrimination.
Estate/Conditions
There has been no progress in the provision of digital kiosks.
Other
Repeated
The paper-based system for managing property remains unfit for purpose and the inconsistent approach between the prisoner escort contractors in respect of the number of bags carried causes problems for the prison and prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
HMP Bedford’s remand prisoners’ strategy, which contained many positive elements to address the needs of a population that is almost 90% remand, has not been implemented.
Safety
HMP Bedford continues to have high levels of assaults on staff; between July 2023 and March 2024, it had the highest number among 29 reception prisons, though recent months show improvement.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The curriculum is contracting, with an insistence on providing additional maths and English places at the expense of well-established and popular music and art courses, which does not recognise the elective nature of a prison where most inmates are on remand.
Other
It remains disappointing that only three of the five workshops are able to provide activities, leading to limited vocational training and work opportunities.
Healthcare
There is a concerning lack of access to healthcare managers, preventing the IMB from raising and discussing significant issues about healthcare provision.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Delays in giving prisoners access to phone numbers are evident due to the current paper-based arrangement, which could be improved by a simple computer system.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff and prisoner relationships are mixed, though the survey indicates overall more positive views. There are numerous examples of good interaction, but also inconsistency, with many officers perceived as not knowing enough to answer questions. The key worker scheme, after almost disappearing, has shown good progress and is working towards being fully operational, with every prisoner now allocated a key worker. The chaplaincy team has been short-staffed but has maintained its workload, with existing staff working longer hours. Concerns were raised by a wing officer about healthcare staff fobbing off wing staff and a general lack of organization.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision is a significant concern, with a lack of effective communication leading to frustration and missed appointments; 75% of prisoners surveyed felt the service was poor and slow. Issues include nurses being unable to access digital prisoner escort records in reception and a lack of organization leading to missed physiotherapy clinics. Two specific medical incidents highlighted serious concerns about diabetic care and soft diet provision. Group and individual drug rehabilitation work is no longer carried out, which the Board views as a reduction in service quality. The IMB's repeated requests to speak with the healthcare manager have been unsuccessful due to management changes and long-term sickness. Mental health concerns were raised by 12 prisoners, citing long waits and dissatisfaction with care.
Regime & Daily Life
Prisoners continue to spend too much time locked in their cells, with 47% spending 20 hours or more per day in their cell, though this represents an improvement from the previous year. The gym, a popular facility, has improved recently, now operating with four staff and a full range of sessions. The education curriculum is contracting, prioritizing maths and English over music and art, which may not suit the largely remand population who attend electively. Only three of five workshops are able to provide activities, leading to limited vocational training and work opportunities. The AstroTurf pitch remains underutilised.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Discipline | 9 | 7 | |
| Food | 5 | 4 | |
| General (e.g. general conditions) | 4 | 2 | |
| Healthcare | 45 | 10 | |
| Legal | 15 | 13 | |
| Other | 0 | 1 | |
| Property | 37 | 22 | |
| Regime (other) | 5 | 2 | |
| Release | 19 | 18 | |
| Staff | 23 | 25 | |
| Total | 209 | 144 | |
| Violence/safety | 2 | 2 | — |
Recommendations (17)
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 14
7 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
The long delay and design issues associated with the relocation of the CSU suggest some basic flaws in understanding how prisons work and a lack of consultation with local managers. When will the Prison Service address this issue?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 2
The insistence on providing additional maths and English places, at the expense of art and music, does not appear to recognise the elective nature of a prison where most inmates are on remand or the relationship between drug use and more attractive alternative activities. How will the Prison Service resolve this issue?
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The paper-based system for managing property remains unfit for purpose and the inconsistent approach between the prisoner escort contractors in respect of the number of bags carried causes problems for the prison and prisoners. What steps will the Prison Service take to improve this system?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The induction process remains inconsistent in terms of quality and delivery – 38% of prisoners we asked said that they had not received an induction.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 5
Violence towards staff has been, for most of the reporting year, highest of all reception prisons and although this has improved in recent months there are still issues to be addressed.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 6
Repeated
We hope that, with the relocation of young adults to F-wing, the opportunity is taken to reinvigorate the STRIDE programme and regain the initial impetus of a dedicated youth wing.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 7
It does not appear difficult for drugs and other illicit items to get into the prison: on average, there is at least one find every day.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Whilst there have been improvements in overall cleanliness, many of the cells remain in a very poor condition.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 9
There has been no progress in the provision of digital kiosks.
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
We would like to see the key worker scheme fully operational in the not-too-distant future.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 11
We are concerned that the number of black, Asian, other ethnic minority prisoners and those from the Traveller community are significantly over-represented in adjudications.
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
We feel that HMP Bedford’s strategy for remand prisoners had many positive elements, and we would like to see more progress on its implementation.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 13
We are concerned about the large rise in applications we have received about healthcare, the general negative view of prisoners and the lack of access to healthcare managers.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 14
We are concerned that group and individual drug rehabilitation work is no longer carried out.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 15
Whilst we understand the national context, we feel strongly that education needs to offer a suitable range of courses to attract the (elective) remand prisoners and provide attractive diversion activities.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 16
It remains disappointing that, of the five workshops, there are only three able to provide activities.
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 17
We would like to see if the delays in giving prisoners access to phone numbers could be reduced by a simple computer system replacing the current arrangement of bits of paper being carried around.
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Bedford
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
30 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 1
Respect: 1
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.