HMP Leeds, an overcrowded Victorian inner-city prison, was found to have become less violent and more respectful since a troubling inspection in 2017.

Leeds holds up to 1,131 adult male prisoners from across West Yorkshire, with about two-thirds being convicted and just under half sentenced. At an announced inspection in November and December 2019, 20% of the population were on remand and just over 11% were licence recalls. Many prisoners had significant needs and spent comparatively short periods at the establishment, which resulted in a considerable population turnover each week.

Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said that in 2017 inspectors found an establishment that was unsafe and was failing to achieve good enough outcomes in the healthy prison tests for respect and purposeful activity (PA). Outcomes in 2017 for rehabilitation and release planning (RRP) were better.

“At this [2019] inspection it was true to say that Leeds continued to face many significant challenges, but we found a generally competent institution where improvement was evident in many areas. This was particularly true of safety, which was now much better, although much remained to be done.” Respect had improved to an assessment of reasonably good. Assessments in PA and RRP remained unchanged, although both areas had improved.

A body scanner had been introduced to the reception area, which was proving effective in detecting contraband. The availability of illicit drugs had reduced. Levels of violence had also reduced and serious violence had gone down considerably, though over a third of prisoners said they felt unsafe and intimidated by staff. Prisoners suggested that the use of force by staff was sometimes excessive, and inspectors found evidence to support their view.

There had been eight self-inflicted deaths since 2017 and several other deaths were under investigation. The case management (ACCT) of those in crisis was not good enough, despite recommendations made by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) following her investigation into some of these deaths. The number of incidents of self-harm was much higher than in similar prisons. Overall, Mr Clarke said, “we found that the prison’s safeguarding strategy was not sufficiently effective in addressing emerging issues or risks, or the needs of individuals in crisis.”

Inspectors generally observed good and relaxed staff-prisoner relationships. Cramped living conditions were prevalent, but were mitigated slightly by a proactive and effective approach to upholding standards, including cleanliness, as well as to providing cell equipment and access to basic amenities.

Time out of cell varied greatly from about nine hours a day for a fully employed prisoner to as little as two hours for those unemployed and subject to a basic regime. The daily routine was reasonably predictable but inspectors still found 40% of prisoners locked in cell during the working day. There were too few activity places in work and education, and those that were available were not always filled.
Despite some weaknesses, including some mixed outcomes in public protection arrangements, prisoners generally received good resettlement planning and support.

Overall, Mr Clarke said:

“It is right to acknowledge again the challenges in running a prison like Leeds. The level of need among prisoners was great, the environment required constant work and attention in order that minimum standards could be maintained and the operational context required real grip. Overall, though, we were encouraged by what we saw. Leeds could not yet be described as cultivating a rehabilitative culture as aspired to by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), but we could see some very important work being done and improvements were evident. The Governor and his team deserve acknowledgement for what they have achieved so far. Priorities going forward […] include further improvements in safety outcomes, notably safeguarding those at risk of self-harm, and getting prisoners out of cell and into purposeful activity with greater consistency.”

– End-

 

Notes to editors

1. The report, published on 24 March 2020, can be read on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website.

2. 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.

3. The establishment was built in 1847 and originally comprised four wings. Two further wings were added in 1993. Leeds is a category B local prison serving a catchment across West Yorkshire.

4. HMI Prisons assesses adult prisons against four ‘healthy prison tests’ – safety, respect, purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning. There are four grades – good (4), reasonably good (3), not sufficiently good (2) and poor (1). In 2017 Leeds scored 1-2-2-3. In 2019 it scored 2-3-2-3.

5. Notable features from this inspection: there had been eight self-inflicted deaths and one homicide since the last inspection; in our survey, 92% of prisoners said that they had had problems on arrival at the prison, and 61% that they had had mental health problems; 56% of officers had less than two years’ service, and about a quarter had less than one year; around two-thirds of prisoners were living in overcrowded conditions; almost a third of the population were assessed as presenting a high or very high risk of harm to others; and there was a high turnover of prisoners, with 38% of those sentenced and 67% of those unsentenced remaining at Leeds for three months or less.

6. This announced inspection – one of only a small number of announced visits by the Inspectorate – took place between 25 November and 6 December 2019.

7. Please contact John Steele at HM Inspectorate of Prisons on 07880 787452, or at john.steele@justice.gov.uk, if you would like more information. Please contact the Ministry of Justice news desk for a comment on 0203 3334 3536.