Tag: HMP Leicester

Leicester prison remains under significant pressure from the large number of men being sent there by the courts or returned to prison for breach of their release licence. Population numbers fell in the summer of 2024, but by the end of January 2025 the prison was once again full. In its 2024/5 annual report published on 24 June 2025, the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for HMP Leicester has found that prison staff were striving to manage the very high turnover of prisoners in an ageing prison that requires significant capital investment.

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Leicester for reporting year 1 February 2024 – 31 January 2025.

Letter from Lord James Timpson MP, Minister of State for Justice, in response to the Leicester 2023-24 annual report.

Rapidly rising numbers of men sent to prison has increased the pressure on prison managers struggling to provide safe and decent conditions in HMP Leicester. The Independent Monitoring Board in its annual report published today (23 July 2024) is concerned about increased rates of violence and self-harm. Most prisoners are now sharing aging cells designed for one person, where they must eat, sleep and use the toilet and are confined for at least 19 hours a day. Long waits for trial mean that 75% of prisoners in HMP Leicester have not been found guilty or sentenced. Lack of space results in a high ‘churn’ of sentenced prisoners being quickly moved on to other prisons resulting in shortages of clothing and kit and making it difficult for staff to respond to their immediate needs.

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Leicester for reporting year 1 February 2023 – 31 January 2024.

Letter from Damian Hinds MP, Minister of State for Justice, in response to the Leicester 2022-23 annual report.

The good resettlement work being done at HMP Leicester is being undermined by the high number of men released without accommodation, and therefore unable to take up job offers, says the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) in its 2022-23 annual report.  

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Leicester for reporting year 1 February 2022 – 31 January 2023.

Letter from Stuart Andrew MP, Minister of State for Justice, in response to the Leicester 2021-22 annual report.

Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Leicester for reporting year 1 February 2021 – 31 January 2022.