HMP Leeds

A Victorian reception prison in Armley

In shortHMP Leeds is a Victorian category B reception and resettlement prison for adult men in Armley, built in 1847.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) describes it as about one mile from the city centre. GOV.UK says the nearest railway station is Leeds, a 30-minute walk or about ten minutes by taxi, and that parking at the prison is very limited.

Its task in the estate is reception and resettlement. HMIP describes it as a category B prison for adult men that takes in new arrivals from the courts.

• The IMB says prisoners come mainly from West Yorkshire courts and other prisons
• More came from out of area, particularly the North East, during 2025 because the national population was close to capacity
• Our prison categories explained guide sets out what reception and category B mean

Who is held and how it is arranged

In shortLeeds held 1,088 men at the July 2025 inspection, with about 500 new arrivals a month and a largely unsentenced population.

• Held (July 2025)1,088 / 1,110Men against operational capacity; in-use certified normal capacity of 641
• MoJ bulletin, 24 August 20261,068 / 1,090Held against a reduced operational capacity
• New arrivalsAbout 500 a monthIn 2025; nearly 600 at the March 2026 review visit
• On opiate substitution treatment30%17% were foreign national and 35% from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (2025)
• UnsentencedTwo-thirdsNearly 200 recalled men arrive each month (2026 review visit)

The inspectorate lists an incentivised substance free living wing, a complex needs unit, a wing for prisoners convicted of sexual offences and those seeking protection, a segregation unit and a healthcare-based unit for men with social care needs. GOV.UK says the learning and skills department offers over 6,000 class sessions in each six-week period.

What inspectors found in 2025

In shortHMIP rated safety and purposeful activity poor and respect and release preparation not sufficiently good, with outcomes down in every test since 2022.

• SafetyPoor
• RespectNot sufficiently good
• Purposeful activityPoorOfsted: education, skills and work inadequate overall
• Release preparationNot sufficiently good
• Self-inflicted deaths16Since the 2022 inspection, the highest of any adult male prison over the previous three years

HMIP inspected without notice from 14 to 24 July 2025 and published its report on 21 October 2025. Only one of 13 earlier concerns had been fully addressed. Inspectors raised six priority concerns and nine key concerns.

HMIP praised early evening visits for school-aged children as notable positive practice.

The March 2026 review visit

In shortHMIP found good progress on three of nine concerns, but no meaningful progress on overcrowding and three further self-inflicted deaths.

• Good progress3 of 9
• Reasonable progress1 of 9
• Insufficient progress4 of 9
• No meaningful progress1 of 9
• Drug testing positive21.7%Mandatory drug testing rate

HMIP returned for an independent review of progress from 23 to 25 March 2026, published on 5 May 2026. A new governor had been in post for six months. Ofsted found significant progress on two themes and reasonable progress on one. Review visits do not produce new healthy prison scores.

What the Independent Monitoring Board reported for 2025

In shortThe IMB called shared cramped cells unacceptable and said staff morale was badly affected by earlier deaths, though self-harm and drug use fell.

• Self-harm incidents954 to 748
• Prisoners found under the influence538 to 346
• No suitable accommodation on release32%
• Regime restricted53 daysUnder a regime management plan, plus nine days for staff training

The IMB's annual report for 1 January to 31 December 2025 was published in July 2026. It said the prison remained a cluster site receiving extra support after deaths in custody, and that on a rolling 12-month basis Leeds was top of the national table for self-inflicted deaths before dropping to fourth by year end.

• Teachers told the Board that the education budget had been cut by 40%
• It noted investment in an early days wing in the final quarter

Working at Leeds

In shortLeeds is on standard national Band 3 pay with no market supplement as at 3 October 2026, and HMPPS rated its 2025/26 performance 2, of concern.

• Band 3 to 5 officers (FTE)274 / 297Band 3 to 5 officers against target; HMPPS workforce statistics for 30 June 2026
• HMPPS rating2: of concernAnnual performance ratings published 30 July 2026: 53.1%

See our prison officer pay bands page and the pay hub for current figures. The inspectorate's findings describe a demanding, high-turnover environment, so it is worth reading the latest reports alongside any advert, including the staffing and morale findings in the 2025 inspection report.