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 2448 hours in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

SentencedThere andmay convictedbe prisonersa arelimit entitled to 3the visitsnumber everyof 28visits days.a Visitsprisoner lastcan onehave. hour.You They can alsocheck earnthis extrawith visitsLeeds each month depending on their privileges.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

LeedsYou iscan runningbook a limited visits schedule.online Visitsat are also happening differently than normal, observing strict guidelines, which must be followedhttps://www.gov.uk/prison-visits.

You can book byvisits telephone.via Wetelephone: are0113 not203 currently accepting online bookings. Booking line number: 01132 032 9952570.

The booking line is open Monday to Friday,Friday: 8am to 10am and midday12pm to 2pm.

Face to Face bookings available Monday to Friday: 8am to 4pm.

Email (enquiries only):only) socialvisits.leeds@hmps.gsi.gov.uksocialvisits.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 securitythe Operation Department before you book a visit.

Include the name of the manprisoner you want to visit, your namename, andaddress, 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 securityOperations department.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:

• ThursdayMonday: 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 are only taking place by video link which can be booked by emailing vccleeds@justice.gov.uk

Legal visit times

• Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4pm

Getting to Leeds

Find Leeds on a map

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:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

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 pat-downrub search, including children. You may also be sniffedasked byto 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 dressesdresses, and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons).

There willA full list can be nofound refreshmentsin the Jigsaw centre and the visits search area.

Refreshments are now available duringthroughout 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 cancelledcancelled, 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, reassurancereassurance, and information.

Refreshments There are quietnow roomsavailable wherethroughout youyour canvisit. talkThe confidentially.

Therechildren’s willplay bearea nois refreshmentsopen available during yourschool visit.holidays Theand children’sat playweekends. areaA maximum of £30 per person is currentlyallowed noton your visit in £5, £10, and £20 notes or loose change in a small see through cash bag available tofrom use.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 2271
2771.

Family days

ThereFamily visits are curentlynow noconducted familyon daysa beingFriday run.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

SecureTo videohave callinga issecure availablevideo atcall thiswith prison.someone Familyin andthis friendsprison willyou need toto:

• Download download the Prison Video app,app
• Create create an account,account
• Register register all visitors
• Add and add the prisoner to theiryour 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.

Read more about how it works

Phone calls

Prisoners (except for those on a restricted regime or in segregation) have phones in their rooms.cells. They can only make outgoing calls so they will always have to call you. They havemust to 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.

MenPrisoners 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.

Email

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.

National Prison Radio’s Family and Friends request show

National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes. 

You can send in a message, and hear the show, at  nationalprisonradio.com

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 beapply sentfor to thembe ashanded gifts.in Contactor Leedsif forapproved moresent informationin onvia what’sthe allowed.

post/currier. You can only bring in items if the prisoner has applied for and beenhad grantedapproved permission.this Theyto alsobe handed in.  They must have also detailed the items.individual items on the application form and only these will be accepted. 

TheyThese items can only be brought in by a person andon acceptedthe prisoners approved visitors list at thesethe times:agreed date and time.

The days and time that are available are:

• Monday: 9am8:30am to 11am,11am and 1:30pm to 4pm6pm.
• Wednesday:Tuesday: 9am8:30am to 11am,11am and 1:30pm to 4pm3pm.
• Thursday:Wednesday: 9am8:30am to 11am,11am and 1:30pm to 4pm3pm.
• Saturday:Saturday 9:30amand toSunday 11am,9am 1:30pm to 4pm12pm.

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 menprisoners 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.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board.

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 menprisoners 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 personprisoner 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 healthhealth.
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcoholalcohol.
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and trainingtraining.
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotionsemotions.

Everyone finds out about the rules, canteen, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Leeds has nearly 700 rooms,cells, across 6 wings (A to F) which house over 11001,100 men.prisoners. There are a mixture of single and shared rooms.cells. All wings have exercise yards and gym equipment.

There are residential wings, a first-night centre, an incentivised substance-free living wing (ISFL)(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 menprisoners take a basic skills screening test when they arrive. This makes sure all menprisoners 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 with Bounceback which which offers City and Guilds qualifications in painting and decorating, carpentry and multi skills.

St Giles supports menprisoners into employment on release.

The Offender Management Unit (OMU) works with the menprisoners 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 menprisoners change anti-social behaviour to reduce risk of harm and reoffending.

Temporary release

APrisoners man in category D isare assessed weekly to be considered for release on temporary licence (ROTL). If they meet the criteria, they go to the board for considerationconsideration, and most are then prioritised for transfer to an open prison.

Organisations Leeds works with

The Offender Management Unit (OMU) works with the menprisoners and also with voluntary and community services to help resettlement.

It works with:

• Shelter to get the menprisoners somewhere stable to livelive.
• Leeds Community Health Trust for access to mental and physical healthcare and also substance abuse and addiction services
• Citizens Advice and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to help menprisoners keep on top of finance and debtdebt.
• JigsawJigsawcharity which runs the visitor centrecentre.
• The Community Chaplaincy Organisation
• Nacro which helps to house, educate, supportsupport, and advise people in needneed.

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 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.

ProblemsConcerns, problems and complaints

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: SimonRebecca WaltersNewby

Telephone: 0113 203 2600
Monday to Friday,Friday: 7am to 10pm
Weekends,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

Follow Leeds on TwitterTwitter/X

Address

See map

Safer custody hotline

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a man in Leeds, call the safer custody hotline. Leave your name, your telephone number, the prisoners name and prisoner number, and a brief description of the problem. Someone will call you back within 24 hours.

Telephone: 0113 203 2629
Find out about call charges

In an emergency, call the main switchboard on 0113 203 2600.