High suicide rates, rampant drug use and overcrowding at Leeds prison

Prison inspectors have raised concerns over rising suicide rates and illicit drug use at HMP Leeds.

- by Alex Grant

A report published yesterday by HM Inspectorate of Prisons raised concerns about the number of suicides in Leeds - which has one of the highest rates in all adult men's jails over the last three years. There have been two more suicides since the inspection.

Despite leaders taking active steps to respond to Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommendations, a combination of mental health need and inadequate day-to-day support for those at risk of self-harm was placing vulnerable prisoners at risk and was described as a "serious threat to safety at the jail."

Illicit drug use was also a problem. Leeds has the highest figure of drug equipment finds and the second highest for drug finds, with 37 per cent of prisoners saying they had a drug or alcohol problem - and 18 per cent said they had developed one in jail.