Inspectors who visited HMP Bedford unannounced over the summer found a prison making genuine progress, but one still struggling with serious and longstanding problems. The visit, carried out by HM Inspectorate of Prisons between 27 July and 6 August 2026, was the Victorian category B prison’s first full inspection since a highly critical report in 2023.
The prison recorded the highest rate of violence of any adult male prison in England and Wales over the past year, and self-harm, though down by around half, remains at levels similar to other reception prisons. Around half of prisoners are sharing cells built for one person, and inspectors found cockroach and rat infestations across the site. Only 28% of prisoners were in education or work, despite most being unlocked for much of the day, and 40% of those released left homeless or in unstable accommodation.
Of the 15 concerns raised in 2023, inspectors found six had been addressed and eight had not. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said Bedford remains ‘a fragile establishment’ and warned it was ‘essential that hard-won ground is not lost’, saying the governor and staff needed continued support to keep up the improvements made so far. For families with someone held at Bedford, the report suggests day-to-day life inside may be a little safer than in 2023, but conditions and resettlement support remain a serious concern.