Recommendation 1
Recommendation (the Board's words)Is the minister satisfied that there are sufficient secure hospital places to cope promptly with the demand?
Source text verified
Independent Monitoring Boards annual report
Leicester
Report year 2023
Published 28 Jun 2023
Type Prison, category local
Responsible body HMP Leicester
9 recommendations
Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response, 4 Aug 2023 ↗ imb.org.uk ↗
The summary and positive findings below were written from the report by an AI model. The Board's own wording is in the report linked above.
Summary
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)HMP Leicester is well-led, maintaining a relatively safe environment with reduced self-harm and assaults on staff, and improved reception facilities. Despite generally good physical and mental healthcare, significant concerns persist regarding long delays for mentally ill prisoners awaiting transfer, which can result in inhumane segregation. Staffing shortages have severely impacted key working and the regime on weekends, while aging infrastructure requires substantial capital investment, particularly for the gym. Resettlement efforts are hindered by a high proportion of men released without accommodation and underdeveloped substance misuse services.
Positive findings
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)HMP Leicester is well-led, and leadership of safety is strong, leading to a downward trend in self-harm and assaults on staff. Prisoners are generally treated with fairness and respect, with good staff-prisoner relationships and improving reception facilities. Healthcare, particularly physical and mental health provision, is generally good, and resettlement planning is developing strongly with an increasing range of vocational courses. The Board commends the supportive teamwork, resilience of staff, and the proper scrutiny and action taken on safety and equality data.
Recommendations
- Recommendation 1Addressed to Ministry of Justice
- Recommendation 2Addressed to Ministry of Justice
- Recommendation 3Addressed to Ministry of Justice
Key concerns
- Key concern 1Mental Health
- Key concern 2Regime/Time Out of Cell
- Key concern 3Resettlement/Release
Recommendations 9 items · 5 repeated
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Recommendation 2
Recommendation (the Board's words)Is the minister able to work with colleagues in the criminal justice system to address this situation?
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Recommendation 3
Recommendation (the Board's words)What plans does the minister have to commission short-term accommodation services for prisoners released in the East Midlands?
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Recommendation 4
Recommendation (the Board's words)Can funds be found for repair of the fabric of the building and replacement of equipment?
Source text verified
Recommendation 5
Recommendation (the Board's words)When will a finance, benefit and debt service be available in HMP Leicester?
Source text verified
Recommendation 6
Recommendation (the Board's words)Can the Prison Service free up one or two cells at a time for this programme to recommence?
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Recommendation 7
Recommendation (the Board's words)How will the governor ensure that the induction of new prisoners is of a consistently high quality?
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Recommendation 8
Recommendation (the Board's words)What plans does the governor have for working with the healthcare provider to ensure a full range of services are available for those who wish to reduce or cease their substance misuse?
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Recommendation 9
Recommendation (the Board's words)How will the governor ensure that high quality key working will be restored as the prison returns to full staffing levels?
Source text verified
Key concerns 9 items
Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.
Key concern 1
The Board has again to report that some prisoners experienced very long waits for transfer to secure hospital accommodation (6.3.1). Although there were fewer prisoners in the gatekeeping system in 2022 than 2021, the average waiting time for transfer to specialist units increased significantly.
Key concern 2
The Board is again concerned about the growing numbers of men waiting too long for court hearings. The number of men who have exceeded the custody time limit on remand has increased from 12 in October 2021 to 66 in January 2023 (7.3).
Key concern 3
In 2022, 40% of men were released from HMP Leicester without accommodation to go to (7.5).
Key concern 4
The gym is one of the most important and popular resources in this ageing prison, which has limited other opportunities for men to engage in constructive activity. Its continued viability is threatened by a leaking roof and bowing floor, and much of the equipment is old and requires replacement. (6.5.2)
Key concern 5
The Board was advised last year that provision would be made in 2022 for finance, benefit and debt services as part of prisoners’ resettlement through a commissioned rehabilitative services contract, however this is still not in place (7.5).
Key concern 6
The Board has noted that the programme to address the very poor condition of many cells, which need redecoration and refurbishment, has ceased due to pressure on accommodation (5.1.1).
Key concern 7
The Board notes that the induction process has been inconsistent, particularly for vulnerable prisoners (4.1.2).
Key concern 8
Therapeutic services for substance misusers are underdeveloped and the ‘my recovery unit’ is not operating as intended (6.6).
Key concern 9
The amount of key working undertaken with prisoners has been significantly reduced due to staff shortages (5.3.3).
Safety statistics
Incidents during the reporting year.
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | not recorded |
| Self-harm incidents | 226 | 272 |
| ACCT cases opened | 195 | 254 |
| Prisoner assaults | 49 | 49 |
| Assaults on staff | 38 | 63 |
| Use of force | 315 | 365 |
| Drug finds | 62 | 39 |
Population
| Operational capacity | 350 |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Discipline (Adjudications/Segregation) | 14 | 12 |
| Discrimination/Racism (DIRF) | 10 | 5 |
| Medical | 16 | 12 |
| Other | 20 | 15 |
| Property (including clothing, mail) | 17 | 10 |
| Sentence management | 24 | 18 |
| Staff behaviour/Attitudes | 21 | 18 |
Report details
- Establishment
- Leicester
- Type
- Prison, category local
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 28 June 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Leicester
- Recommendations
- 9
- MoJ rating (2025/26)
- 2, Concern
Service providers
| Service | Provider |
|---|---|
| Catering suppliers | Bidfood |
| Dental care | Time for Teeth |
| Education and skills | PeoplePlus |
| Escort contractor | GEOAmey |
| Family engagement | Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust) |
| Healthcare | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Integrated drug and alcohol treatment services (IDTS) | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Library services | Leicestershire County Council (LCC) |
| Maintenance | Amey |
| Probation services | East Midlands Region |