Prison
Cat Category B local prison
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Leeds
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 11 August 2021
HMP Leeds operated under a severely curtailed regime in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to prisoners spending 23 hours a day in cells. While this contributed to a reduction in violence and self-harm incidents, it exacerbated concerns regarding humane treatment in shared, small cells with integral toilets. Key challenges included a lack of mental health hospital places, inconsistent staff use of Body Worn Video Cameras, and staffing pressures in reception, alongside broader concerns about short sentences and the welfare of immigration detainees. The Board commended staff for their dedication in these trying circumstances.
Positive Findings
The Board commends staff for their efforts in ensuring the smooth running of HMP Leeds, noting observed care and respect for prisoners. The curtailed regime contributed to a reduction in violence and psychoactive substance use, making prisoners generally feel safer. In-cell telephony proved an asset for consultations and communication, and the chaplaincy adapted well to provide virtual family contact. The prison's 24-hour nursing care and palliative care suite were also highlighted as positive.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Some prisoners requiring places in secure mental health hospitals find themselves in prison due to the lack of secure hospital places and the lack of liaison and diversion schemes to provide alternatives.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The Board is concerned about the indignity of sharing a small cell in which all daily functions (eating, sleeping, using the toilet, washing and dressing) are undertaken, particularly during the extreme lockdown conditions. The Board cannot consider that it is acceptable that the consumption of food occurs in the same space as integral toilet facilities, which is degrading, unhygienic and undignified.
Safety
Staff are instructed to use body worn video cameras (BWVC’s) at the start of any incident, yet often they are not deployed immediately. The use and review of BWVC’s is essential in determining what really happened in difficult situations.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The disruptions that short, seven-day sentences cause in HMP Leeds create management problems within reception, for induction, administration, healthcare, cell management, education, and probation.
Healthcare
The IMB is concerned that the work involved in receiving and discharging prisoners can be too much for one nurse to deal with in reception.
Resettlement/Release
The plight of immigration detainees being held within the prison system, after finishing their sentences for offences committed, is of concern to the IMB, with progress appearing slow in relation to any decision being made regarding deportation or subsequent appeal.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Not all prisoners got daily showers, either because they were isolating/shielding or, as an unlawful punishment for poor behaviour, although this latter practice was quickly stopped.
Complaints/Property
It is of great concern that the Board found out that an incident of a prison officer acting in such a forceful way with a prisoner had not been reported to the police, in contrast to spitting incidents by prisoners.
Staffing
Key worker sessions are critical to the management of ACCTs but due to staffing levels and regime restrictions, they were not always able to take place and key working was largely suspended due to the pandemic.
Complaints/Property
Property going missing either on transfer to or from another prison, in the postal system or within the prison (for example, following a cell move) is a regular cause for concern and irritation for prisoners and the subject of the largest number of complaints.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels and pandemic restrictions significantly impacted key worker sessions and consistent use of Body Worn Video Cameras (BWVCs). The Board noted an internal issue concerning staff bullying and harassment, raising potential concerns for prisoners. A business case has been made for an additional nurse in reception due to high workload. Despite these challenges and staff absences, the Board commended all staff for their dedication in maintaining the establishment's smooth running.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision transitioned to Practice Plus Group in October 2020. The pandemic led to increased use of in-cell phones for consultations, maintaining essential care. A significant concern is the number of prisoners with serious mental health issues held in prison, often in segregation, due to a lack of secure hospital beds and diversion schemes. The Board supports the request for an additional nurse in reception due to workload. Positively, the prison offers 24-hour nursing care and has a dedicated complex care wing with a palliative care suite.
Regime & Daily Life
The pandemic severely curtailed the prison regime, leading to prisoners spending 23 hours a day in cells, with only one hour for domestic matters and exercise. This exacerbated concerns about the indignity and unhygienic conditions of sharing small cells with integral toilet facilities, where all meals are consumed. The Board was also concerned that some prisoners were denied daily showers as an unlawful punishment. Purposeful activity and education were significantly limited, largely replaced by in-cell learning and distraction packs.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 14 | 21 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 2 | 11 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 8 | 2 | |
| Equality | 1 | 19 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 6 | 9 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 6 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 14 | 36 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 8 | 21 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | 35 | |
| Property within this establishment | 6 | 29 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 5 | 18 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 11 | 21 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 35 | 34 | |
| Transfers | 3 | 5 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 3
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Can the Minister seek assurances that more special hospital beds will be made available and within what timeframe? Also, that liaison and diversion schemes are fully implemented and resourced.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Is the Minister aware of this situation and could he comment on what is being done to relieve the situation of detainees?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Does the Prison Service have any plans to bring about a change to these circumstances?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Will the Governor ensure that staff use BWVC’s at the very start of any incident where use of force is likely to be employed?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 5
Are there plans to increase the numbers of telephones for staff that can access the in-cell telephone system and increase the number of computers for staff?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Is the Governor able to support the healthcare team in their request to the NHS for another nurse to work as part of the reception team?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Other IMB Reports for Leeds
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
23 Mar 2026
IRP
14 Jul 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.