Prison
Cat local
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Leicester
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 24 June 2025
HMP Leicester, a busy local male prison, continues to be well-led despite the challenges of an aging Victorian estate and high prisoner turnover. The reporting year saw a positive 33% reduction in self-harm incidents and no deaths in custody, alongside effective intelligence work to intercept illicit items. However, concerns persist regarding an increase in violent incidents, significant delays in mental health transfers, a lack of accommodation for 33% of prisoners on release, and the persistent availability of drugs.
Positive Findings
The IMB commends the energetic leadership and staff at HMP Leicester, especially for the 33% reduction in self-harm and zero deaths in custody. The prison demonstrates strengths in staff-prisoner relationships, the reintroduction of prisoner council meetings, and effective intelligence gathering to prevent illicit items. Healthcare, particularly physical health services, and education provision are noted as good, with strong resettlement planning and employer links.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
The Board remains concerned about the number of mentally ill prisoners who are waiting for long periods, often in segregation, to transfer to secure hospital facilities. It is also concerned that seriously mentally ill men are being sent to prison as a place of safety rather than receiving appropriate treatment in the community.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The Board notes that there have been several initiatives to ensure that prisoners are not released without accommodation. However, 33% of prisoners released from HMP Leicester in 2024 did not have accommodation to go to:
Healthcare
The IMB at HMP Leicester was concerned that a prisoner with severe dementia was held in the prison, which was not a suitable place to meet his needs, placing himself and staff at risk.
Resettlement/Release
The board notes the significant number of men who are being returned to prison repeatedly on 14-day recalls where resettlement is ineffective.
Substance Misuse
The Board is concerned about the availability of illegal drugs in prisons including HMP Leicester:
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board notes that there is no space specifically dedicated for confidential interviews with new prisoners in reception, the currently used space doubling as staff facilities.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The Board notes the improvement in the number and delivery of key work sessions. However, they are still falling short of what is planned.
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Leicester maintained good staffing levels for much of the year, with a settled situation and low turnover among trained officers. However, by January 2025, there was a slight shortfall in band three prison officers. Staff resource allocation was impacted by an increase in constant supervision cases, taking officers away from other duties. Despite good staffing, key working sessions were significantly below target.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision is generally appropriate, with the new provider, Practice Plus Group, successfully filling most permanent staff posts. Physical healthcare services are good, though appointment attendance rates have dropped. While mental health services are also good, significant delays in transferring seriously ill individuals to secure settings remain a major concern. The Board also noted unsuitable placements for seriously mentally ill individuals and those with severe dementia.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison's regime faces challenges due to a high turnover of remand prisoners and an aging estate. Time out of cell is comparable to similar prisons but limited by facilities, with vulnerable prisoners on induction wings having restricted regimes. The care and separation unit, along with the Parsons unit, struggles with overcrowding, damp, and pest issues, with unsuitable cells often used for segregated prisoners.
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 | 45 | 38 | |
| Discrimination (Equality issues) | 9 | 9 | — |
| Early release/licence | 6 | 7 | |
| Family visits | 8 | 5 | |
| Food | 7 | 6 | |
| Healthcare related | 30 | 25 | |
| Legal/Judicial | 14 | 11 | |
| Other | 20 | 15 | |
| Property | 13 | 10 | |
| Regime | 42 | 40 | |
| Segregation | 11 | 8 | |
| Transfers | 22 | 18 | |
| Work/pay | 10 | 12 |
Recommendations (7)
Other: 4
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 2
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What actions can the Minister take with colleagues in health commissioning to ensure that a) liaison and diversion services divert seriously mentally ill men away from the prison system and that b) there are sufficient places in secure mentally health facilities for prisoners who require them?
Other
(minister)
Mental Health
Response
Only two men were transferred to hospital within the 28-day standard in 2024: the other eight experienced delays of more than 28 days, with waits ranging from 32 to 175 days. This compares with nine out of 11 men who waited more than 28-days in 2023, with waits ranging from 50 to 195 days.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What can the Minister do with colleagues in local government to improve this situation?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Response
There was a decrease in the percentage of men accommodated on their first night of release to approximately 67%, (72% last year); the shortage of accommodation on release remains a significant concern.
Recommendation 3
What pathways can be developed for prisoners with severe dementia to meet their needs in specialist facilities in prison or community facilities?
Other
(minister)
Healthcare
Recommendation 4
What actions can be taken to improve effective resettlement of men released from 14 -day recalls?
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
What actions can HMPPS take to support the prison in effectively reducing the amount of drugs coming in? For example, inhibiting access by drones by replacement of opening windows with ones with vents?
HMPPS
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 6
Given the importance of gaining the trust and confidence of new prisoners to disclose significant information, can a dedicated confidential space be made available for these reception interviews?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Can action be taken to increase the delivery of key work sessions?
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
Key working has been reviewed and is now targeted more at new prisoners and those in most need. The amount of key working has increased from an average of about 60 sessions per week in 2023 to 81 in 2024, with the target being reduced from 222 sessions per week in 2023 to 111 in 2024.
Other IMB Reports for Leicester
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
13 Feb 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 2
Release: 3
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.