Source · IMB Annual Report
Leicester
Year: 2022
Published: 8 Jul 2022
Type: Prison · Cat local male adult prison
Recommendations: 7
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Leicester maintained its status as a well-run establishment during the reporting year, demonstrating strong leadership and staff commitment despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. Safety remained a high priority, with reductions in violence and self-harm, improved security, and good management of Covid cases. However, the Board raised significant concerns regarding the long waits for mental health transfers, the management of IPP prisoners, and the impact of a high remand population on resettlement, alongside persistent issues with staff recruitment and retention.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 272 | 455 |
| ACCT cases opened | 254 | 325 |
| Prisoner assaults | 49 | 53 |
| Assaults on staff | 63 | 54 |
| Use of force | 365 | 395 |
| Drug finds | 39 | 58 |
Positive findings
HMP Leicester remained a well-run establishment with strong leadership and staff commitment, evidenced by good teamwork and efforts to maintain services. The prison remained safe, with excellent Covid management, reduced violence and self-harm, improved security, and falling drug availability. Prisoners reported feeling safe, were treated fairly, and benefited from good staff-prisoner engagement. Healthcare provision was very good, enhanced by integrated substance misuse services, and the installation of in-cell telephony was a major positive development for prisoners.
Key concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
The transfer of seriously mentally ill prisoners
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The management of prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP)
Resettlement/Release
The new arrangements for resettlement services
Overcrowding
Repeated
The increasing number of prisoners waiting for court hearings
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The performance of Amey Commercial
Staffing
Repeated
Re-introduction of key working and staff recruitment and retention
Education/Purposeful Activity
The installation of in-cell information technology
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is the minister satisfied that there are sufficient secure hospital places to cope promptly with the demand? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Does the minister agree that allowing them to make progress to safe discharge should have a higher priority? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Can the minister reassure the Board that this will be addressed soon? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 4 | Is the minister able to work with colleagues in the criminal justice system to address this situation? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 5 | The Board would like to draw the minister’s attention to its continued concerns about the service provided (5.1.2). Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 6 | What plans does the prison service have to address this? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 7 | For these reasons, the Board requests that the prison service treats Leicester as a priority for its installation. | HMPPS |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 11 | 16 |
| Activities/Work/Education | 8 | 13 |
| Adjudications | 2 | 4 |
| Bullying/attitude/unfair treatment by staff | 14 | 21 |
| Chaplaincy | 0 | 0 |
| Discrimination/Equality | 0 | 0 |
| Food | 8 | 10 |
| Health/Dentist/Medical | 11 | 13 |
| Laundry | 0 | 0 |
| Legal | 0 | 2 |
| Money/Private cash | 2 | 1 |
| Other | 14 | 34 |
| Property | 2 | 8 |
| Release/Resettlement | 3 | 11 |
| Safety | 1 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 77 | 138 |
| Visits | 1 | 1 |
Related inspections & investigations
13 Feb 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 3
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 3
Other reports for Leicester
Report details
- Establishment
- Leicester
- Type
- Prison · Cat local male adult prison
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 8 July 2022
- Responsible body
- HMP Leicester
- Recommendations
- 7
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 1 — Serious concern
Population
| Operational capacity | 280 |
| Time out of cell | 2.0h/day |
Service providers
Catering suppliers
Bidfood
Community rehabilitation company
Commissioned Rehabilitative Services
Dental care
Time for Teeth
Education and skills
PeoplePlus
Escort contractor
GEOAmey
Healthcare
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Integrated drug and alcohol treatment services
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Library services
Leicestershire County Council (LCC)
Maintenance
Amey