Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor has issued a second Urgent Notification for HMP Bedford following HMI Prisons' inspection in early November. Bedford becomes the fifth establishment to receive an Urgent Notification in the past 12 months. It had the highest levels of violent assaults against staff in adult male prisons in England and Wales, around three-quarters of prisoners lived in overcrowded conditions, most reported being unlocked for under two hours each day, and self-harm had risen by 84% since the last inspection.

What we do
Learn about our remit and values and the role of the Chief Inspector. Read the Urgent Notifications we have issued and find out about our Independent Reviews of Progress.

About our inspections
Find out which establishments we inspect and the frequency of our visits. Learn about the inspection process and how we produce our reports.

Our reports
Download inspection reports, thematic reports and research, annual reports and business plans, including those carried out with other inspectorates.

Our Expectations
Explore the criteria we use for assessing the treatment of detainees and conditions in detention.