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.
Source wording under review
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.
Source wording under review
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
Whilst there have been positive aspects around the provision of education, we are concerned that the provision of more maths and English courses, at the expense of music and art course, does not recognise the impact of 90% of prisoners being on remand (and, therefore, only attend education on an elective basis) or the relationship between drug use and attractive alternative activities.
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
The IMB has asked, on numerous occasions, to speak to the healthcare manager so that we could raise and discuss all the issues set out. However, because of changes in management and long-term sickness issues, this has not proved possible.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
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.