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Critical safety concerns putting prisoners at risk at HMP Leeds

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An inspection report published today raises concerns about the number of self-inflicted deaths at Leeds, with one of the highest rates in all adult men’s prisons over the last three years, particularly as there have been a further two 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.

Inconsistent staff relationships were a further challenge. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said:

While some staff demonstrated care and professionalism, others were disengaged or unhelpful. One-to-one work with prisoners had stalled, with fewer than 3% of planned sessions delivered in the previous six months, and far too little had been done to tackle the very high levels of homelessness on release.

The governor had a clear vision for the future of the prison and was working hard to change its culture. The inspection team identified a rare and commendable initiative for school-aged children to visit their fathers in the early evening as an example of positive practice. Yet the scale of the challenges at Leeds had limited the impact of these efforts, and outcomes for prisoners had deteriorated across every healthy prison test since the last inspection.

Charlie Taylor continued:

Leeds has to cope with a high churn of prisoners with complex and challenging needs. The governor had set out priorities in consultation with staff and prisoners, and there was investment in leadership development and staff training. However, many of the concerns raised at our last inspection remained unaddressed and immediate action is required. Leaders must make sure that the needs of the most vulnerable prisoners are placed at the heart of this work to end the unacceptable numbers of suicides at the prison.

Notes to editors

  1. This inspection took place between 14-24 July 2025.
  2. A copy of the full report, published on 21 October 2025, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk
  3. Leeds is a category B reception and resettlement prison for men, receiving around 500 prisoners a month.
  4. It had recorded the highest number of self-inflicted deaths in all adult male prisons over the last three years. At the time of our inspection, there had been 16 self-inflicted deaths since our last full inspection in 2022, with a further two post-release deaths and one other death awaiting classification. In October, HMPPS recorded a further two self-inflicted deaths.
  5. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
  6. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.