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Source · IMB Annual Report

Leicester

AI-generated report summary HMP Leicester, a busy local prison for adult men, continues to be well-led despite significant challenges from ageing infrastructure and a high prisoner turnover. While there have been welcome reductions in self-harm and violence, and no deaths in custody, key concerns persist regarding prisoner resettlement, accessible facilities, reduced purposeful activity due to funding cuts, and inadequate confidential interview spaces. Staffing levels are generally good, but key worker sessions have fallen, and support for foreign national prisoners and those with disabilities needs improvement.

Year: 2026 Published: 18 Jun 2026 Type: Prison · Cat local Population: 325 Recommendations: 6 Key concerns Positive findings
Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response · 15 Sep 2026 ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year
IndicatorThis yearPrevious
Deaths in custody00
Self-harm incidents314379
ACCT cases opened309265
Prisoner assaults134169
Assaults on staff76101
Use of force548639
Drug finds26689

Positive findings

AI-generated summary
The prison continues to be well led by an energetic new Governor and a senior management team. There has been a welcome 17% reduction in self-harm incidents, and fortunately, no deaths in custody. Good use of intelligence continues to intercept weapons, drugs, and mobile phones. There has been welcome investment in showers, and food is generally of a reasonable standard. The level of care demonstrated by CSU staff has been good, and many positive interactions between staff and prisoners were observed. The prison was fully staffed for much of the year with an increasingly experienced staff group, and monitoring of equality is good. Resettlement planning remains a real strength, with excellent links with employers.

Key concerns

6 items
Resettlement/Release Repeated Over the past year, 38% of men released from HMP Leicester had no accommodation to go to.
Equality/Diversity Prisoners with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs, struggle to access showers on the main wing, while vulnerable prisoners on the Welford unit cannot access all facilities, as the lift has been out of action for many months.
Regime/Time Out of Cell The education budget was cut by 50% in October 2025, thereby reducing the number of activity spaces. This means that more men are now locked up for 22 hours per day, impacting their mental and physical health.
Safety Repeated The Board notes that there has been no progress in identifying space specifically dedicated for confidential interviews with new prisoners in reception, with the current area also used for staff facilities.
Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated The Board notes the significant reduction in the number of key work sessions delivered in 2025-2026 compared with the previous year, which averages about a third of the reduced target.
Equality/Diversity Surveys of foreign nationals, who do not speak English as their first language, show they were more likely to feel isolated and experience incentives scheme warnings, often because they do not always fully understand what is expected of them.

Recommendations

6 items · 3 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

Over the past year, 38% of men released from HMP Leicester had no accommodation to go to. What further action will the Minister take, working with other government departments, to address this issue and improve outcomes on release? In particular, given that CAS 3 supported accommodation in this region is consistently at full capacity, what plans does the Minister have to expand this provision to better meet demand?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
The proportion of men releasee from prison without accommodation has increased from 33% in 2024-2025 to 38% in 2025-2026.

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation 2

Addressee: HMPPS

Prisoners with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs, struggle to access showers on the main wing, while vulnerable prisoners on the Welford unit cannot access all facilities, as the lift has been out of action for many months. What immediate steps will HMPPS take to ensure accessible shower facilities are provided for wheelchair users, and when exactly will the Welford unit lift be repaired so that full access for vulnerable prisoners is restored?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS

The education budget was cut by 50% in October 2025, thereby reducing the number of activity spaces. This means that more men are now locked up for 22 hours per day, impacting their mental and physical health. What will HMPPS do to increase the number of workshop places and reduce the time men are locked up, and when will this happen?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 4

Addressee: Governor / Director

The Board notes that there has been no progress in identifying space specifically dedicated for confidential interviews with new prisoners in reception, with the current area also used for staff facilities. Given how important it is for new prisoners to feel able to share sensitive information, what action will the Governor take to provide a suitable confidential space, and when will this be in place?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
There remains no dedicated confidential interview room on reception for inducting new prisoners.

Recorded status:

Topic: Safety

Recommendation 5

Addressee: Governor / Director

The Board notes the significant reduction in the number of key work sessions delivered in 2025-2026 compared with the previous year, which averages about a third of the reduced target. What immediate steps will the Governor take to increase the number of key work sessions and when will delivery return to acceptable levels?

Repeated Source text verified

Government response
The number of key work sessions remains low, averaging 32.2% of target sessions completed per week, down from 54% in the previous year.

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 6

Addressee: Governor / Director

Surveys of foreign nationals, who do not speak English as their first language, show they were more likely to feel isolated and experience incentives scheme warnings, often because they do not always fully understand what is expected of them. What action will the Governor take to ensure interpreting and translation services are used consistently, and to prioritise this group for key work sessions so they can better understand expectations, feel less isolated and be treated fairly?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Equality

Applications to the IMB

CategoryCurrentPrevious
Comp 1A (appeal) 70 69
Comp 1 (ordinary complaint) 689 625
Finance 75 40
Incentives scheme 105 —
Property 105 110
Residential 197 184
Staff 90 111

Related inspections & investigations

5 Aug 2025 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 2 · Respect 3 · Activity 1 · Release 3
13 Feb 2023 HMIP · Unannounced Safety 3 · Respect 3 · Activity 2 · Release 3
15 Dec 2020 HMIP · Inspection
— PPO fatal incident James Walker
— PPO fatal incident Andrew Newton
27 Aug 2022 PPO fatal incident Milburn, Ross · Other non-natural
27 Dec 2022 PPO fatal incident Herbert, Adam · Other non-natural
25 Jan 2007 PPO fatal incident Individual at Leicester · Self-inflicted
11 Jul 2016 PFD Michael Williams · State Custody related deaths; Suicide (from 2015)

Other reports for Leicester

2025 Published 24 Jun 2025 Population 290 · Self-harm 379 · Concerns
2024 Published 23 Jul 2024 · Self-harm 563 · Concerns
2023 Published 28 Jun 2023 · Self-harm 226 · Concerns
2022 Published 8 Jul 2022 · Self-harm 272 · Concerns
2021 Published 6 Jul 2021 Population 300 · Self-harm 455 · Concerns
2020 Published 16 Jul 2020 Population 340 · Self-harm 471 · Concerns