Leeds Prison
Leeds is an adult male prison in the Armley area of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Leeds
To visit someone in Leeds you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Leeds prison.
Contact Leeds if you have any questions about visiting.
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- travel to Leeds
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book visits online at https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits
You can book visits via telephone: 0113 203 2570.
The booking line is open Monday to Friday: 8am to 10am and 12pm to 2pm.
Face to Face bookings available Monday to Friday: 8am to 4pm.
Email (enquiries only) socialvisits.leeds@justice.gov.uk.
If you are an ex-offender and have been in prison before, you must make a formal request in writing to the Operation Department before you book a visit. Include the name of the prisoner you want to visit, your name, address, date of birth and previous prisoner number (if known). Also mention any license conditions still in effect. You must be a minimum of 6 months custodial sentence free. If approved, you will get a letter from the Operations Department. Bring that letter to each visit as proof you have been cleared.
People who are on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) or on licence must also bring a copy of the licence with their approval letter to the visit.
Visiting times:
A to E wing:
- Monday: 2pm to 3pm, 3:30pm to 4:30pm and 6pm to 7pm
- Tuesday: 2pm to 3pm, 3:30pm to 4:30pm and 6pm to 7pm
- Wednesday: 2pm to 3pm, 3:30pm to 4:30pm and 6pm to 7pm
- Friday: 2pm to 3pm, 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Saturday: 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Sunday: 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
F wing:
- Tuesday: 2pm to 3pm
- Wednesday: 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Saturday: 9am to 10am
- Sunday: 3:30pm to 4:30pm
All visits can only be booked two weeks in advance.
How to book legal and professional visits
Legal visits can be booked by emailing vccleeds@justice.gov.uk
Legal visit times
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4pm
Getting to Leeds
The closest railway station is Leeds and buses and taxis run from there. It’s a 30-minute walk or about ten minutes in a taxi.
To plan your journey by public transport:
Parking is very limited at the prison but there is plenty in the surrounding residential area.
Entering Leeds
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors must prove their identity before entering the prison. All under 18’s must provide a full Birth Certificate.
You will need to be given a rub search, including children. You may also be asked to comply with a search using security sniffer dogs.
Leeds has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut tops, no shorts, no short dresses, and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons). A full list can be found in the Jigsaw centre and the visits search area.
Refreshments are now available throughout your visit. The Children’s play area is open at weekends and during school holidays.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Leeds. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. Pushchairs and car seats can enter the prison but will be thoroughly searched.
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled, and you could be banned from visiting again.
Visiting facilities
Jigsaw runs the visitor centre where you wait for your visit to start. It offers support, advice, reassurance, and information.
Refreshments are now available throughout your visit. The children’s play area is open during school holidays and at weekends. A maximum of £30 per person is allowed on your visit in £5, £10, and £20 notes or loose change in a small see through cash bag available from banks.
When your visiting session starts, you will go through to the visiting hall. This has 20 seats for open visits with 3 adjoining booths for closed visits.
Telephone (visitor centre): 0113 203 2771.
Family days
Family visits are now conducted on a Friday morning every other week.
Keep in touch with someone at Leeds
There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Leeds.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.
You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.
Phone calls
Prisoners (except for those on a restricted regime or in segregation) have phones in their cells. They can only make outgoing calls so they will always have to call you. They must buy phone credits to do this and can call between 7am and 10pm.
They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.
Prisoners can also use the phones on their unit.
Depending on their daily activity, they can call between:
- 8:15am to 8:45pm
- 10:30am to 11:30am
- 3:15pm to 4:30pm
- 6pm to 7pm
You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.
Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
You can send emails to someone in Leeds using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Leeds.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Leeds.
All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.
Send money and gifts
You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.
You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.
If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:
- are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
- do not have a debit card
This will allow you to send money by post.
Gifts and parcels
People located in HMP Leeds are given a list of approved items that they can apply for to be handed in or if approved sent in via the post/currier. You can only bring in items if the prisoner has applied and had approved this to be handed in. They must have also detailed the individual items on the application form and only these will be accepted.
These items can only be brought in by a person on the prisoners approved visitors list at the agreed date and time.
The days and time that are available are:
- Monday: 8:30am to 11am and 1:30pm to 6pm.
- Tuesday: 8:30am to 11am and 1:30pm to 3pm.
- Wednesday: 8:30am to 11am and 1:30pm to 3pm.
- Saturday and Sunday 9am to 12pm.
Please be advised that the option to hand in items on a Thursday and Friday are not available.
Family and friends of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners. For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Leeds
Leeds is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Leeds has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.
Arrival and first night
When someone first arrives at Leeds, they (or a member of staff) will contact their family by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.
All prisoners are searched, then given their ID, a hot drink, a shower, a change of clothes and a hot meal.
They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.
Induction
Each prisoner who arrives at Leeds gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:
- health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health.
- any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol.
- personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training.
- other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions.
Everyone finds out about the rules, canteen, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Leeds has nearly 700 cells, across 6 wings (A to F) which house over 1,100 prisoners. There are a mixture of single and shared cells. All wings have exercise yards and gym equipment.
There are residential wings, a first-night centre, an incentivised substance-free living wing (ISFL), a Complex Unit for those requiring additional support and a wing dedicated to vulnerable prisoners.
Education and work
In each 6-week period, the learning and skills department offers over 6000 class sessions, in a variety of subjects, ranging from business and self-employment to literacy and numeracy.
Leeds focuses on planning for each individual, so all prisoners take a basic skills screening test when they arrive. This makes sure all prisoners get the fundamental education they need in English and maths before they start work. This can then be matched to a realistic career plan so they can go on to get the skills and qualifications needed for work when they leave.
Leeds also works in partnership with Bounceback which offers City and Guilds qualifications in painting and decorating, carpentry and multi skills.
St Giles supports prisoners into employment on release.
The Offender Management Unit (OMU) works with the prisoners and voluntary and community services to help resettlement.
The ‘Fathers Inside’ programme helps fathers to develop and keep up good relationships with their children.
The Offender Assessment System (OASys) helps prisoners change anti-social behaviour to reduce risk of harm and reoffending.
Temporary release
Prisoners in category D are assessed weekly to be considered for release on temporary licence (ROTL). If they meet the criteria, they go to the board for consideration, and most are then prioritised for transfer to an open prison.
Organisations Leeds works with
The Offender Management Unit (OMU) works with the prisoners and also with voluntary and community services to help resettlement.
It works with:
- Shelter to get the prisoners somewhere stable to live.
- Leeds Community Health Trust for access to mental and physical healthcare and substance abuse and addiction services
- Citizens Advice and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to help prisoners keep on top of finance and debt.
- Jigsawcharity which runs the visitor centre.
- The Community Chaplaincy Organisation
- Nacro which helps to house, educate, support, and advise people in need.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Support at Leeds
The Prison Advice and Care Trust offers support to families and partners while their loved one is in prison.
To contact family services email: info@jigsawcharity.org
To contact our Family Services Lead at HMP Leeds: please email complaintscorrespondenceleeds@justice.gov.uk.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 0113 203 2600 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 0113 203 2629 | Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously. |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a prisoner is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
Problems and complaints
If you have a problem email: complaintscorrespondenceleeds@justice.gov.uk
Inspection reports
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Leeds in response to independent inspections.
Contact Leeds
Governor: Rebecca Newby
Telephone: 0113 203 2600
Monday to Friday: 7am to 10pm
Weekends: 7am to 5pm
Outside these hours, calls are diverted to the communications room.
Fax: 0113 203 2601
Find out about call charges
Email: complaintscorrespondenceleeds@justice.gov.uk
Address
HMP Leeds
2 Gloucester Terrace
Stanningley Road
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS12 2TJ
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Updates to this page
Published 7 April 2020Last updated 21 June 2022 + show all updates
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Updated Governor
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
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visit info
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.
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Added confirmation of secure video calls being made available at this prison.
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update to survey link
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added survey link
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First published.