Leicester: Self-harm incidents in prison have doubled

HMP Leicester saw an increase in violence and self-harm last year, a new report has revealed.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for the prison – volunteers who monitor its standards – raised a number of concerns in its latest report on Tuesday.

It said the “rapidly increasing” number of men being sent to prison had “increased pressure on prison managers struggling to provide safe and decent conditions”.

A government spokesman said record numbers of criminals behind bars were putting “significant pressures on the entire justice system”.

The IMB said the problems were compounded by the age of the Victorian-era prison, which is “no longer fit for purpose”.

There was also a 56% increase in violent incidents at HMP Leicester in 2023 compared to the previous year, the report added.

However, the IMB praised the prison leadership.

It said: “The prison continues to be well run by an energetic governor and senior management team who strive to provide a good service within the constraints of old, unsuitable buildings.”

The council said in its report that there are not enough cells for inmates, which has resulted in most “sharing aging cells designed for one person, where they have to eat, sleep and use the toilet and are locked up for at least 19 hours a day day”.

This led to “boredom and tension due to the lack of privacy”, the IMB said.

The increase in violence is also fueled by drugs, he added, with other concerns raised about prison conditions.

The main wing is now 150 years old and requires “considerable investment to bring it up to an acceptable standard”, and there are damp and “infestation” problems, while broken windows let in drafts and drugs.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The prison system is in crisis – with record numbers of offenders behind bars, putting significant pressure on the entire justice system.

“We will understand the situation so we can lock up the most dangerous offenders, protect the public and make our prisons safer for working staff.”