Leicester Prison among most overcrowded in UK, Howard League warns
Prison charity finds the jail is operating 43% above capacity
Leicester Prison is among the ten most overcrowded prisons in the country, according to new findings from the Howard League for Penal Reform (HLPR).
The facility is currently operating at around 43% above its intended capacity.
The Victorian-era prison, located in the city centre, is a Category B local prison holding adult men from Leicester and surrounding areas.
As a local prison, it manages a constantly changing population, including people on remand, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving short sentences or awaiting transfer.
The Howard League warns that this level of overcrowding is placing increasing strain on daily life inside the prison. More prisoners are being required to share cells designed for one person, while access to essential services such as healthcare, showers and time out of cells is under pressure.
Staff are also facing mounting challenges, with higher prisoner numbers making it more difficult to maintain safe and stable conditions.
The charity's findings are based on Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA) — the prison service’s own measure of how many prisoners can be held in safe and decent conditions.
Any population above this threshold is officially classified as overcrowded.
Category B prisons like Leicester are particularly affected, the Howard League notes, as they handle large volumes of prisoners moving through the system. In contrast, higher-security Category A prisons are not expected to operate above capacity due to the risks involved.
Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said urgent action is needed for safety:
"We resort very quickly to putting people in jail, as opposed to coming up with solutions to address their problems."
She continued:
"You go to prison to be denied your right to liberty, but you shouldn't be treated in a cruel, degrading or inhumane way."
The findings add to broader concerns about overcrowding across England and Wales, with campaigners urging reforms to sentencing policy and prison management to reduce pressure on the system and improve safety.
The Ministry of Justice has been approached for a comment.