Leicester (HM Prison)
Encyclopedia
HM Prison Leicester is a local
men's prison
, located in the Southfields
area of Leicester
, Leicestershire
, England
. The term 'local' means that the prison holds people on remand
to the local courts, as well as sentenced prisoners. Leicester Prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
, and is situated immediately north of Nelson Mandela Park
(formerly Welford Road Recreation Ground), a sign in which quotes Nelson Mandela
: "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere".
to resemble a castle
. The oldest part dates from 1825, and it was opened in 1828. The gatehouse including the adjoining building to north and south and the perimeter wall are grade II listed.
Between 1900 and 1953, eight executions took place at the prison. The last was that of John Reynolds, convicted of murder at Leicester Assizes, and hanged on November 17 1953.
In 2001 Leicester hit headlines as a 'failing prison' and David Ramsbotham, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
, declared that it should be shut down.
In 2004 the Prison Reform Trust
described Leicester as one of the most overcrowded prisons in the country, and suggested that its true design capacity was around 200.
In November 2006 an inspection report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised Leicester Prison after nine inmates died there in a 28-month period. Continued overcrowding and poor health at the prison were also highlighted.
Employment for inmates at the prison centres around Education, Kitchen, Domestic Cleaners, and the Greening Party. Education at Leicester Prison is provided by Milton Keynes College
, and is mainly focused on vocational and foundation subjects. The prison also has a library
provision, gym
and chaplaincy covering a variety of faiths.
Prison security categories in the United Kingdom
There are four prisoner security categories in the United Kingdom used to classify every adult prisoner for the purposes of assigning them to a prison. The categories are based upon the severity of the crime and the risk posed should the person escape....
men's prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, located in the Southfields
Southfields, Leicestershire
The Southfields of Leicester, England consisted of common land south of the city, and now refers to the mostly-developed area immediately south of the city centre....
area of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The term 'local' means that the prison holds people on remand
Detention of suspects
The detention of suspects is the process of keeping a person who has been arrested in a police-cell, remand prison or other detention centre before trial or sentencing. One criticism of pretrial detention is that eventual acquittal can be a somewhat hollow victory, in that there is no way to...
to the local courts, as well as sentenced prisoners. Leicester Prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
, and is situated immediately north of Nelson Mandela Park
Nelson Mandela Park
The Nelson Mandela Park is a public park in Leicester, England. It is situated just inside the city centre near Leicester Prison and the Leicester Tigers' Stadium. The park was named to celebrate Nelson Mandela....
(formerly Welford Road Recreation Ground), a sign in which quotes Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
: "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere".
History
The prison was designed by William ParsonsWilliam Parsons
William Parsons may refer to:*William Parsons , Master of the King's Music*William Parsons , English writer associated with the Della Cruscan movement*William Barclay Parsons , American civil engineer...
to resemble a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
. The oldest part dates from 1825, and it was opened in 1828. The gatehouse including the adjoining building to north and south and the perimeter wall are grade II listed.
Between 1900 and 1953, eight executions took place at the prison. The last was that of John Reynolds, convicted of murder at Leicester Assizes, and hanged on November 17 1953.
In 2001 Leicester hit headlines as a 'failing prison' and David Ramsbotham, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons is the head of HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the senior inspector of prisons, young offender institutions and immigration service detention and removal centres in England and Wales...
, declared that it should be shut down.
In 2004 the Prison Reform Trust
Prison Reform Trust
The Prison Reform Trust was founded in 1981 in London, England by a small group of prison reform campaigners who were unhappy with the direction in which the Howard League for Penal Reform was heading, concentrating more on community punishments than on traditional prison reform issues...
described Leicester as one of the most overcrowded prisons in the country, and suggested that its true design capacity was around 200.
In November 2006 an inspection report from the Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised Leicester Prison after nine inmates died there in a 28-month period. Continued overcrowding and poor health at the prison were also highlighted.
The prison today
Leicester is a local prison for adult males, sentenced and on remand from the local courts. The main living accommodation is a long rectangular cell block with four landings, with full integral sanitation and in cell electricity.Employment for inmates at the prison centres around Education, Kitchen, Domestic Cleaners, and the Greening Party. Education at Leicester Prison is provided by Milton Keynes College
Milton Keynes College
Milton Keynes College is a general further education and training college, serving the Borough of Milton Keynes. It also serves the surrounding areas...
, and is mainly focused on vocational and foundation subjects. The prison also has a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
provision, gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
and chaplaincy covering a variety of faiths.
Notable former inmates
- Brian KeenanBrian Keenan (Irish republican)Brian Keenan was a former member of the Army Council of the Provisional Irish Republican Army who received an 18-year prison sentence in 1980 for conspiring to cause explosions, and played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process.-Early life:The son of a member of the Royal Air Force,...
Irish Republican - Mark MorrisonMark MorrisonMark Morrison is a British R&B singer. He was the most successful UK R&B singer of the mid-90s and the first black male solo artist to reach number one in the 90s. His single "Return of the Mack" became a #1 or Top 10 hit in several European countries in 1996...
- Ricky TomlinsonRicky TomlinsonEric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....