Covid cases under control at Bedford Prison - but violent attacks on staff are still worryingly high, according to investigators

In a new report from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), Bedford Prison has been praised for getting a grip on the coronavirus pandemic.

But, it said, violent assaults by prisoners on staff are still worryingly high.

Its annual report - which covers 2019-20 - revealed there had been a number of positive changes at the Category B prison.

It said: "The prison has managed the Covid lockdown very well. Thus, Bedford is among a small number of establishments which, during the reporting period, avoided any positive cases among residents.

"However, there have been significant reductions of staff, either off sick with symptoms, or forced to self-isolate. At times, up to a third of staff have been affected in this way."

It added that inmates have had to be confined for longer periods and had to cope with the stress of a lack of contact with their relatives to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

The report added: "These two factors have almost certainly led to an increase in mental health problems among prisoners, but so far it has not been possible to quantify these effects."

Last month Bedford Today revealed fewer assaults had been recorded at the prison due to the Covid measures, meaning gangs were mixing less, leading to less bullying.

However, the report found violent assaults by prisoners on staff was still worryingly high.

The report said: "Despite the best efforts of the governor and other senior staff, the prison therefore remains a violent place, as far as prisoner-on-staff incidents are concerned. We hope that a newly appointed head of violence reduction will now make a difference, but we believe that a different approach to the management of violence may be required."

IMB chair, Geoff Shepherd, said: “Compared with previous years, we think that conditions in the prison have generally improved. There is still a long way to go in many areas, but significant progress has been made.

"The prison was also well managed during the Covid-19 crisis. (These) … improvements are due entirely to the vision and commitment of the governor and the senior leadership team and we commend them for their efforts under very difficult circumstances.”