<sod >" The Victorian prison was built in 1849 and houses nearly 1,500 inmates.< eod>< sod > " The Victorian prison was built in 1849 and houses nearly 1,500 inmates. It is also where alleged mass murderer Fred West hanged himself in 1995. In July 2014 HMP Birmingham was found to be "making good progress" after being categorised as a failing prison "for many years" previously, according to HM Inspectorate of Prisons. It was "calm and ordered" and "most prisoners generally felt safe". Inspectors added that "relationships between staff and prisoners were good and much improved from previous inspections". Despite good work, however, the prevalence of illegal drugs "remained stubbornly high", they said.< eod>