'Critical concern': HMP Leeds found to have high number of self-inflicted deaths
The Independent Monitoring Board’s inspection of the prison in Armley said it had the highest number of self-inflicted deaths at any prison in England and Wales for much of 2025
HMP Leeds had the highest number of self-inflicted deaths at any prison in England and Wales for much of 2025, a new report has found.
The Independent Monitoring Board’s inspection of the prison in Armley said this a “critical concern”.
The IMB - which is made up of people from the local community - reported that there were eight deaths in HMP Leeds in 2024, with this rising to 11 deaths in 2025.
Of those, five were self-inflicted. “During the reporting year, on a rolling 12- month basis, HMP Leeds was top of the national table of prisons for self-inflicted deaths dropping to fourth in the table on the final day of the reporting year,” the report stated.
“The large number of self-inflicted deaths in custody at the prison continues to
be a critical concern for the IMB,” it added.
On a more positive note, the report found that there has been a “significant reduction” in self-harm incidents.
It said it hoped investment in early days wings to address mental health issues “will reduce (and ideally eliminate) self-inflicted deaths in the prison”.
Overall HMP Leeds has nearly 700 cells, across 6 wings (A to F) which house over 1,100 prisoners.
Leeds is a Category B local prison, meaning it holds prisoners on remand, those awaiting sentencing, and those serving shorter sentences.
It also has a wing specialising in those who have committed sexual offences.
The IMB said it “must highlight as unacceptable the continuing issue of prisoners sharing cramped cells, in which they eat, sleep, wash and use the toilet”.
“This is compounded by recurrent defects with toilets in some parts of the prison (principally in the Care and Separation Unit) whereby, whist awaiting repair, the water supply is
turned off and only turned on briefly by staff after the toilets have been used.”
The report did find that drug drop via drones had been limited by the installation of overhead netting.