Bedbug infestations shut nearly 3,800 prison cells across England and Wales
Bedbugs have forced the closure of almost 3,800 prison spaces in England and Wales, worsening an already strained prison system.
The Ministry of Justice disclosed that bedbug infestations, together with damp, mould, asbestos, toxic gas and fire-safety repairs, have rendered nearly 3,800 prison places unusable across England and Wales. At HMP Wayland near Thetford, two cells were out of service due to bedbugs on October 19, after a summer outbreak that affected four cells earlier in the year. Specialist teams also tackled a bedbug problem at HMP Holme House in Stockton-on-Tees.
The wider maintenance backlog includes 236 places lost to damp or leaks, 162 to prisoner-caused damage, and 2,255 cells awaiting fire-safety upgrades delayed until the 2030s. Additional closures stem from Legionella, asbestos and radon gas at Dartmoor. The closures come as authorities release prisoners early to relieve pressure on an ageing, over-capacity prison estate.
Why it matters
Cell closures exacerbate prison overcrowding, affecting public safety and inmate welfare.
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