Latest news with #HMPLeeds
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
HMP Leeds suicide rate 'concerning', says watchdog
The number of suicides at HMP Leeds is still at a "concerning" level and has been made worse by a lack of funding and resources, a prisons watchdog has Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) questioned whether enough was being done to reduce the number of self-inflicted deaths at the category B men's IMB said a lack of investment was "exacerbating an already very difficult situation caused by overcrowding and the reliance on infrastructure mainly built nearly 180 years ago".The Ministry of Justice said it fully acknowledged the challenges at HMP Leeds and was taking steps to address the issue. A spokesperson said: "We have taken steps to address the number of self-inflicted deaths at HMP Leeds, including improved staff training and new specialised cells which ensure constant oversight of prisoners who may be at risk." Cramped cells The IMB report noted there were eight deaths in custody between January and December 2024. Six were self-inflicted and two were from natural number of deaths at the prison in 2023 was the same, although three were report said it was "alarmed" that checks on prisoners known to be at risk of self-harm and suicide may not have been accurately logged in all said prisoners continued to share cramped cells in which they ate, slept, washed and used the toilet, and the cells tended to be too hot in summer and too cold in added that there were many prisoners with severe mental health problems who may not be prioritised for transfer to secure mental health facilities, because prison was perceived by the NHS to be a "safe" environment."On regular occasions over the course of the year it was necessary to curtail the daily regime because of staff shortages," the IMB said."This resulted in prisoners having less time out of their cells to associate and access work and education."Social justice charity Nacro said cramped and overcrowded cells were "not acceptable", in particular for people with acute mental health executive Campbell Robb said: "As the IMB at HMP Leeds rightly points out, prison is not - and should never be mistaken for - a safe alternative to proper mental health care."The staff at HMP Leeds are clearly doing what they can, but without urgent investment in both infrastructure and staffing, these efforts will always be undermined." Despite this, the watchdog reported that there was a reduction in the number of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners in HMP good mental health and wellbeing has also been prioritised, with the introduction of "check on a mate" schemes to encourage prisoners to check in on each other, particularly on those who may be and prisoner relationships were observed to be generally positive, particularly in smaller units within the IMB chair John Cleland said: "HMP Leeds has one of the highest levels of self-inflicted death in the prison estate."Whilst the local prison leadership and staff are actively seeking to address this, we are concerned that a lack of investment is exacerbating an already very difficult situation caused by overcrowding and the reliance on infrastructure mainly built nearly 180 years ago."All deaths in custody are investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) who report their findings."They make recommendations on what steps could be taken to reduce deaths in the future. These recommendations are accepted by the prison management." If you have been affected by this report, you can find further support via the BBC Action Line. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
02-04-2025
- BBC News
Bradford fire murder suspect transferred to prison
A man charged with murdering a mother and her three children in a house fire has been moved from hospital to prison, ahead of his Ali, 39, was seriously injured in the incident on Westbury Road, Bradford, on 21 August last year, and Bradford Crown Court had previously been told he might not Gawith, 29, and her three children, Denisty, Oscar and Aubree Birtle, aged nine, five and 22 months, all died in the Ali has since recovered and deemed well enough to be transferred to HMP Leeds. He appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday by video link, alongside co-defendants Calum Sunderland, 26, and Mohammed Shabir, three are charged with four counts of murder and will stand trial together at Bradford Crown are also charged with the attempted murder of Bryonie Gawith's sister, Antonia, who was Mr Ali's court was told in March that Mr Ali would be fit for trial within six to nine months. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man appears in court charged with murder of woman
A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a 54-year-old woman found dead at a house in Bradford. Michelle Egge-Bailey was found dead when emergency services were called to a property in Airedale Avenue, Cottingley, on Tuesday. Steven Lawton, 45, appeared via a video link from HMP Leeds at Bradford Crown Court. During the brief hearing, Mr Lawton, of Airedale Avenue spoke only to confirm his name before being remanded into custody to appear at the same court on 18 March. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Man charged with murder after woman's death HM Courts and Tribunals Service
BBC News
14-03-2025
- BBC News
Cottingley man appears in court charged with murder of woman
A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a 54-year-old woman found dead at a house in Egge-Bailey was found dead when emergency services were called to a property in Airedale Avenue, Cottingley, on Lawton, 45, appeared via a video link from HMP Leeds at Bradford Crown the brief hearing, Mr Lawton, of Airedale Avenue spoke only to confirm his name before being remanded into custody to appear at the same court on 18 March. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
