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| HM Prison Leicester 'has high violence rate' | HM Prison Leicester 'has high violence rate' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| High levels of violence, regular assaults on staff and increasing levels of self-harm have been found in an inspection at Leicester prison. | High levels of violence, regular assaults on staff and increasing levels of self-harm have been found in an inspection at Leicester prison. |
| Staff did not always know where inmates were, alcohol and drugs were available and access to toiletries and clean clothes was poor, the report said. | |
| The overcrowded prison had 325 inmates - 50% above capacity - when it was visited unannounced in September. | The overcrowded prison had 325 inmates - 50% above capacity - when it was visited unannounced in September. |
| The prison service said it hoped a new governor would "drive improvement". | |
| The watchdog found conditions at the adult male prison had deteriorated since the previous inspection in November 2013, when it had felt problems were being addressed. | |
| In December prisoners smashed through their cell walls and staged a four-hour stand-off with guards. | In December prisoners smashed through their cell walls and staged a four-hour stand-off with guards. |
| 'Self-harm up 50%' | 'Self-harm up 50%' |
| Martin Lomas, of HMIP, said: "Over half of prisoners indicated that they had felt unsafe in Leicester... These findings were significantly worse than we would expect. | Martin Lomas, of HMIP, said: "Over half of prisoners indicated that they had felt unsafe in Leicester... These findings were significantly worse than we would expect. |
| "The prison was aware of the problems... but there was no strategy and no plan to reduce violence and intimidation. | "The prison was aware of the problems... but there was no strategy and no plan to reduce violence and intimidation. |
| Mr Lomas also identified there had been three deaths in custody, two of which were self-inflicted. | Mr Lomas also identified there had been three deaths in custody, two of which were self-inflicted. |
| "Levels of self-harm had increased by 50% over the same period and were now five times the number in other local prisons," he said. | "Levels of self-harm had increased by 50% over the same period and were now five times the number in other local prisons," he said. |
| The deputy chief inspector added that "too little was done to disrupt supply" of drugs and alcohol to the "overcrowded and shabby" prison, where access to basic necessities required improvement. | The deputy chief inspector added that "too little was done to disrupt supply" of drugs and alcohol to the "overcrowded and shabby" prison, where access to basic necessities required improvement. |
| The report said there was a "high degree of prisoner need, plainly evident to anyone walking around the wings". | |
| Inspectors described basic procedural security as "poor", adding: "Staff often could not account for prisoners and we routinely found prisoners where they were not supposed to be." | |
| Other concerns at Leicester prison: | Other concerns at Leicester prison: |
| Michael Spurr, head of the prison service, said the report was "disappointing". | Michael Spurr, head of the prison service, said the report was "disappointing". |
| "Leicester's performance has deteriorated unacceptably and this cannot be allowed to continue," he said. | "Leicester's performance has deteriorated unacceptably and this cannot be allowed to continue," he said. |
| "A new governor has been appointed, who will provide the leadership required to rapidly drive improvement." | "A new governor has been appointed, who will provide the leadership required to rapidly drive improvement." |
| Earlier this month, David Cameron announced six "reform prisons" were to be created in England and Wales as part of a pilot to tackle high levels of violence and reoffending. | Earlier this month, David Cameron announced six "reform prisons" were to be created in England and Wales as part of a pilot to tackle high levels of violence and reoffending. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Leicester's report is an example of how our ageing prisons need reform. | A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Leicester's report is an example of how our ageing prisons need reform. |
| "We take our duty of care to staff and prisoners extremely seriously and tackling violence and drugs must be a priority." | "We take our duty of care to staff and prisoners extremely seriously and tackling violence and drugs must be a priority." |
| Inspectors were pleased to find: | Inspectors were pleased to find: |