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Inspectors to HMP Bedford, a category B local men’s prison with a resettlement function, found very promising progress and a sustained focus on improving change in the failing jail. Over the last three years the governor had developed a clear vision for HMP Bedford after the Urgent Notification was invoked in 2018, driving improvement in a prison that Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, described as “dangerous, understaffed and dilapidated” at the time of the leadership change.

Inspectors returning to HMYOI Cookham Wood, a young offender institution in Kent, found that progress had been inconsistent since their last full inspection in August 2021. At the 2021 inspection, inspectors been concerned about the high levels of violence, lack of purposeful activity, and poor behaviour going unchallenged by staff.

Royal Holloway’s Magna Carta Lecture given by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, at the Middle Temple Hall in London, 6 June 2022

Inspectors to HMP Forest Bank, the only reception and resettlement prison in the Greater Manchester area, found a prison unable to fulfil its role successfully. The prison held 1,354 prisoners, nearly 300 above its baseline capacity, and as a consequence, prisoners were often diverted to other establishments on arrival, undermining the core focus of the jail.

Inspectors returning to HMP Belmarsh, the only reception prison in the high security estate, were encouraged to find that progress had been made since their last full inspection in July and August 2021. At the 2021 inspection, inspectors had been concerned to find high levels of violence, inadequate governance of the use of force, poor use of data, and severely limited time out of cell for prisoners, despite the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

Inspectors to HMP Winchester, a category B local men’s prison with a separate category C unit, were disappointed to find that no meaningful progress had been made since the last inspection in 2019. Winchester continued to be one of the most violent prisons in the country.

HMYOI Werrington, a young offender institution near Stoke-on-Trent, was judged poor in both safety and purposeful activity by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. Violence levels over the last six months were higher than any other establishment in England and Wales.

Inspectors returning to court custody facilities in Kent found that positive progress in outcomes for detainees were being hampered by staff shortages.

HMP/YOI Bronzefield, a privately-run prison for female adults and young offenders, saw its scores drop in the areas of respect and release and rehabilitation planning in its latest inspection.

Sandra Fieldhouse, Team Leader for Women's prisons at HM Inspectorate of Prisons.