Leicester (HM Prison)

Infobox HM Prison
name = HM Prison Leicester

| size = 320
caption =
opened = 1828
type = Adult Male/Local
figures = 392 (December 2007)
location = Leicester, Leicestershire
governor = Alison Clarke
prisonid = 502

HMP Leicester is a prison in Leicester, England.

The prison was designed by William Parsons 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.

According to the prison service, Leicester had a capacity of 392 as of December 12, 2007, and is a local prison. The Prison Reform Trust described it in 2004 as one of the most overcrowded prisons in the country, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3560390.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Nottingham jail worst for suicide ] ] and suggested that its true design capacity was around 200. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2265791.stm BBC NEWS | England | Prison overcrowding poses problems ] ]

In 2001 it hit headlines as a 'failing prison' and David Ramsbotham, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, declared that it should be shut down. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1561270.stm BBC News | ENGLAND | Prison needs 'urgent investment' ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3246051.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Mixed report for 'dirty' prison ] ]

It is situated in the very south of the city centre, on Welford Road, in the Southfields area; gbmapping|SK587036. It is 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".

References

External links

* [http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/prisoninformation/locateaprison/prison.asp?id=502,15,2,15,502,0 HMP Leicester]