Source · IMB Annual Report
Leeds
Year: 2022
Published: 6 Sep 2023
Type: Prison · Cat B local
Recommendations: 4
Key concerns
Positive findings
The IMB report for HMP Leeds covering 2021-2022 found the prison to be generally safe, although expressing concern over 24 deaths in custody and incidents of unsecured doors. While staff-prisoner relationships were mostly satisfactory, issues with staff conduct and an inability to deliver key worker sessions due to shortages were noted. Accommodation remains unsatisfactory, particularly due to cell sharing, and the lack of external mental health places means many prisoners with severe needs are held inappropriately. Positive aspects included healthcare provision, commended catering staff, and successful prisoner engagement in projects like the Lock-In cafe and bird of prey care.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 24 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 547 | 627 |
| Prisoner assaults | 177 | 200 |
| Assaults on staff | 101 | 132 |
Positive findings
The IMB generally considers HMP Leeds to be a safe place, with the prison seriously addressing self-inflicted deaths and implementing PPO recommendations. Staff generally treat prisoners with care, dignity, and respect. Healthcare provision compares favourably with community services, receiving positive CQC inspections, and the IMB notes good working relationships with healthcare staff in resolving prisoner concerns. Catering staff are commended for providing over 3000 meals daily despite budget constraints and rising costs. The segregation unit staff are praised for their positive attitude and robust approach, and transgender prisoners are well and sensitively managed. The use of in-cell phones has improved healthcare appointment efficiency, and Q Branch and the bird of prey project demonstrate successful prisoner engagement and therapeutic value. The Lock-In cafe, run by trusted prisoners, and its new take-away service are popular successes. The charity Jigsaw positively supports family contact.
Key concerns
Safety
The number of self-inflicted deaths in custody during the reporting period is of concern.
Safety
There has been an uncommonly high number of incidents, particularly throughout 2022, where doors and gates have been left unsecured by staff, which poses a risk to the security of the establishment.
Staffing
A significant number of applications received by the IMB are related to the perceived behaviour of staff towards prisoners (e.g., staff being indifferent to their concerns, not responding to requests, speaking to prisoners inappropriately etc.).
Staffing
IMB members have observed staff members swearing both at prisoners and in general conversation. It does not set a good example to prisoners and falls short of the stated aim of treating people with respect.
Overcrowding
Repeated
Sharing of small cells originally built for one and with limited access to fresh air, where prisoners must eat, sleep and use the toilet facility is both undignified and unhygienic.
Resettlement/Release
Prisoners who are sentenced to indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs) remain in limbo regarding release dates and the ever present concern regarding recall to prison if they are released. They are often bottom of the pile when it comes to undertaking offence related work or educational or vocational training.
Mental Health
There remain a significant number of men remanded or sentenced to prison with severe mental health issues. Prison staff, who are not trained mental health nurses, deal with these prisoners as best they can but prison is arguably not the right place in which these prisoners should be held. The continuing shortage of mental health places in the community indicates that this problem will not go away.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The pressures of the prison population and Operation Safeguard have meant that B wing has reverted to being a mainstream wing. Consequently the plight of short-term prisoners has not improved.
Estate/Conditions
A big problem in 2022 was that a number of the washers and dryers on the wings were out of use, either needing replacement or new parts.
Staffing
In respect of key workers, planned sessions may be lost as staff are required to cover other duties due to staff shortages as a result of bed watches, training, leave, sickness, deployment etc.
Equality/Diversity
It is of concern that some of the lifts and stair lifts for those with restricted mobility or wheelchair users do not function due to breakdown and the unavailability of parts to repair them. Also, a limited number of cells have been adapted for wheelchair users, with issues like narrow doors and floor 'lips'.
Complaints/Property
Property continues to be a significant issue for prisoners, whether it is in respect of property lost on transfer, property misappropriated by fellow prisoners or misplaced in cell moves, property sent in which does not arrive, property in stored property which cannot be accessed, or compensation claims for property.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yet again, the IMB must raise the issue of inappropriate accommodation for prisoners. Sharing small cells that were built for single occupancy is difficult at the best of times. Prisoners sharing a cell with someone they do not get on with or have different values or beliefs from is often a recipe for trouble and prisoners have little or no choice about who they share a cell with. In some cases, this leads to threats, fights or assaults and prisoners can feel very fearful. Of course, this is the minority of prisoners and most do accept that this is how it has to be. Added to this is the ignomy of sharing toilet facilities within the confines of a small cell where meals are eaten. Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 |
Prisoners who are sentenced to indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs) remain in limbo regarding release dates and the ever present concern regarding recall to prison if they are released. The IMBs at Leeds and other prisons in the Yorkshire and Humber region have done some work looking at the overall situation for IPPs who are often bottom of the pile when it comes to undertaking offence related work or educational or vocational training because others with fixed release dates take priority. Thus, there is often little evidence to indicate a prisoner’s reduction in risk, which adversely affects their chances of gaining release.
Response
It is noted that during the preparation of this report, the government has looked at the situation of IPPs in prison and has concluded that, at this time, there will be no significant change to the current system, leaving IPP prisoners feeling that there is very little hope for them. |
Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Is the Minister able to confirm whether or not there are any plans for further diversion schemes to ensure that prisoners with mental health needs get the treatment and care they need outside of the prison system? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 | In respect of self-inflicted deaths in custody, is there more that could be done to reduce the likelihood of such incidents happening again? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 23 | 5 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives, sanctions | 11 | 6 |
| Equality | 8 | 9 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 9 | 9 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 2 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 46 | 27 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 15 | 11 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 23 | 15 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 16 | 6 |
| Property within this establishment | 29 | 5 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 9 | 5 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorization | 8 | 6 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 37 | 24 |
| Transfers | 7 | 0 |
Related inspections & investigations
23 Mar 2026
HMIP · IRP
14 Jul 2025
HMIP · Unannounced
10 Aug 2016
PFD
Thomas Jordan · Hospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths; State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Leeds
Report details
- Establishment
- Leeds
- Type
- Prison · Cat B local
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 6 September 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Leeds
- Recommendations
- 4
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Operational capacity | 1,110 |
Service providers
Educational services
Novus – Foundations for Change
Estate management
Amey
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group
Prisoner transport
Geo Amey
Resettlement
Catch 22
Visitor facilities
Jigsaw