Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many additional days of imprisonment were imposed as punishment on prisoners at HM Prison Bedford during 2016?

During 2016, there were 26 instances of additional days awarded as a punishment following an adjudication at HM Prison Bedford, totalling 411 additional days.

Discipline procedures are central to the maintenance of a safe custodial environment. They are provided for by the Prison and Young Offender Institution Rules, which require adjudications to be conducted lawfully, fairly and justly. Independent Adjudicators are District Judges or Deputy District Judges who attend prisons and young offender institutions when necessary to hear those adjudication cases which are deemed to be sufficiently serious. Such cases may merit a punishment of additional days to a prisoner’s time spent in custody if the prisoner or young person is found guilty. Only Independent Adjudicators can make an award of additional days as a punishment. The most serious offences will be referred to the Police.