Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff have occurred at HMP Bedford since 1 January 2018.

Data on assaults in prison custody is published quarterly in the Safety in Custody statistics. Figures for the period in question will be published in July 2018.

The most recent statistics were published on 25 January 2018 and cover assaults to September 2017. Figures for HMP Bedford can be found in the data tool: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/676164/assaults-data-tool.xlsx.

We are investing £2million in body-worn cameras, which will act as a visible deterrent against violence and assist with prosecutions. We are also introducing new-style handcuffs and piloting PAVA incapacitant spray.