The Independent
Damning inspection of HMP Bedford talks of ‘abject failure’ and conditions that ‘do not offer basic levels of decency’
Inmates find it easier to get drugs than clothes or bedsheets at a prison where standards have deteriorated to “unacceptable levels” that “do not offer basic decency”, according to a watchdog report.
Inspectors found the availability of drugs, particularly the so-called ‘legal high’ or ‘new psychoactive substance’ Spice, was having a “serious impact” on safety at HMP Bedford.
A survey found the number of prisoners saying it was easy or very easy to get drugs had almost doubled since the last inspection of the jail in February 2014.
The number saying they had developed a drug problem while at the prison increased from 4 per cent to 14 per cent.
In a highly critical report setting out the findings of the latest inspection, Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke wrote: “The stark reality is that prisoners told us it was easier to get illegal drugs in the prison than it was to get clothes or sheets.”
“As in so many other prisons, it is quite clear that the ready availability of drugs, particularly new psychoactive substances (NPS) was having a serious impact on the safety of the prison. Despite this, there was no effective drug supply reduction strategy in place.”
The findings come days after the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen revealed that the national death toll from legal highs in prison had tripled. Inmates across the country were dying from legal high-related murders, as well as psychotic episodes, self-harm and suicides triggered by the drugs.
Justice Secretary Liz Truss has announced a nationwide programme of “pioneering new tests” for legal highs in prisons, but this has been criticised by the Howard League for Penal Reform as “a misguided attempt to punish drugs out of prisons.”
The HM Inspectorate of Prisons report on Bedford, which held just under 500 male prisoners when inspected in May, said self-harm incidents had increased “dramatically” since the previous inspection, almost doubling from 67 to 121 in the previous six months, according to the report.
The report was also damning about how many inmates were living in “crowded and cramped conditions”.
“Suffice it to say,” the report concluded, “Damaged furniture, graffiti, shortages of clothing, damp clothing hanging on homemade washing lines in cells, and dirty, unscreened showers do not offer basic levels of decency.”
Of 72 recommendations made after the prison was inspected in February 2014, only 12 had been achieved and four partially achieved, the watchdog found.
In comments that appeared to question the prison’s ability to rehabilitate offenders, the report added: “When it comes to preparing prisoners for release, only three of the recommendations made at the last inspection had been achieved.”
Mr Clarke said: “It is hard to understand how such an abject failure to address our previous clear recommendations has been allowed to happen.
“As a result, standards in the prison have declined to unacceptable levels.
“I am not suggesting that staff at HMP Bedford are not working hard – they clearly were, and some important things had been put in place to improve things in the future.”
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, described Bedford as “a good example of everything that is wrong with the prison system”, saying: “It is unsafe, overcrowded and understaffed.
“Prisoners can obtain drugs easily but cannot get essentials such as clothes and sheets.”
HMP Bedford is believed to be taking action to address the level of substance misuse at the jail.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Safety in prisons is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans.
“There are a number of factors, including the availability of psychoactive substances that must be tackled, and from today we are rolling out mandatory nationwide testing of synthetic drugs, which will help to end the flow of these dangerous drugs into our prisons.
“The Secretary of State is determined to make sure our prisons are safe and places of reform and will announce further measures this autumn.”
