HMP Leeds

What we found (Back to top)

At Leeds the number of self-inflicted deaths had continued to rise and was one of
the highest rates in all adult male prisons over the last three years, with two further suicides since the inspection. Despite leaders taking active steps to respond to Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommendations, a combination of mental health need and inadequate day-to-day support for those at risk of self-harm was placing vulnerable prisoners at risk and was a serious threat to safety at the jail.

Illicit drug use and availability were also major problems. Leeds had the highest number of drug equipment finds and the second highest for drug finds among reception prisons. Thirty-seven per cent of surveyed prisoners said they had a drug or alcohol problem and 18% said they had developed a drug or alcohol problem while at the jail. Substance misuse services were overstretched and there was too little to keep prisoners occupied during the day: 40% spent up to 22 hours a day locked up and access to education and work was limited. Living conditions were not good enough, and 78% of prisoners shared overcrowded cells originally designed for one.