The prison where it is 'easier to get drugs than bedsheets'

Damning inspection of HMP Bedford talks of ‘abject failure’ and conditions that ‘do not offer basic levels of decency’

Tuesday 27 September 2016 08:23 BST

Inspectors found the availability of 'legal highs' was having a 'serious impact' on safety at HMP Bedford (Rex)

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.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Show all 10

1/10World's 10 deadliest street drugs

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Whoonga

Whoonga is a combination of antiretroviral drugs, used to treat HIV, and various cutting agents such as detergents and poisons. The drug is widely available in South Africa due to South Africa’s high rate of HIV sufferers, and is believed to be popular due to how cheap it is when compared to prescribed antiretrovirals. The drug is highly addictive and can cause major health issues such as internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and ultimately death

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World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Scopolamine

Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Heroin

Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the world’s oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated

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Crack cocaine

Crack cocaine first came about in the 1980’s when cocaine became a widespread commodity within the drug trafficking world. Originally cocaine would have attracted a high price tag due to its rarity and difficulty to produce, but once it became more widespread the price dropped significantly. This resulted in drug dealers forming their cocaine into rock like shapes by using baking soda as a way of distilling the powder down into rock form. People were doing this because it allowed for them to sell cocaine at a lower quantity and to a higher number of people. The side effects of crack cocaine include liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as permanent damage to blood vessels, which can often lead to heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Crystal meth

Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels

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AH-7921

AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was previously available to legally purchase online from vendors until it became a Class A in January 2015. The drug is believed to have 80% of the potency of morphine, and became known as the ‘legal heroin’. While there has only been one death related to AH-7921 in the UK, it is believed to be highly dangerous and capable of causing respiratory arrest and gangrene

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Flakka

Flakka is a stimulant with a similar chemical make-up to the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. While the drug was originally marketed as a legal high alternative to ecstasy, the effects are significantly different. The user will feel an elevated heart rate, enhanced emotions, and, if enough is digested, strong hallucinations. The drug can cause permanent psychological damage due to it affecting the mood regulating neurons that keep the mind’s serotonin and dopamine in check, as well as possibly causing heart failure

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Bath salts

Bath salts are a synthetic crystalline drug that is prevalent in the US. While they may sound harmless, they certainly aren’t the sort of salts you drop into a warm bath when having a relaxing night in, they are most similar to mephedrone, and have recently been featured throughout social media due to the ‘zombification’ of its. The name comes from the fact that the drug was originally sold online, and widely disguised as bath salts. The side effects include unusual psychiatric behaviour, psychosis, panic attacks and violent behaviour, as well as the possibility of a heart attack and an elevated body temperature

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Purple Drank

One of the more unusual drugs around at the moment, purple drank was popularised in 90s hip hop culture, with the likes of Jay Z and Big Moe all mentioning it in their songs. It is a concoction of soda water, sweets and cold medicine, and is drunk due to cold medicines high codeine content, which gives the user a woozy feeling. However it can also cause respiratory issues and heart failure

World's 10 deadliest street drugs

Krokodil

Krokodil is Russia’s secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at £20 a gram while heroin is sold for £60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

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.”

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