HMP Leeds - Armley Gaol (Leeds)

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HMP Leeds is a large prison located in Armley approximately two miles from the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire.Although known locally as 'Armley Gaol', the correct name for the prison is HMP Leeds.

History & Development

Construction of Leeds Prison was completed in 1847. Built from locally quarried stone, the prison originally had four wings radiating from a central point in an architectural style (known as 'radial') typical of the time. Each of these four wings had three landings of cells.

A further two wings were added in 1994 and the prison is currently (as of August 2006) undergoing further expansion.

Leeds Prison was a site of execution (by hanging) from 1847 until 1961. The last execution being that of Zsiga Pankotia, by Harry Allen for the murder of Eli Myers in a house burglary in the city's affluent Roundhay district.

Controversy

In 1990, the Howard League for Penal Reform announced that it would conduct its own independent inquiry into the deaths of five teenage prisoners at HMP Leeds. This followed a refusal by the Home Office to hold a public inquiry.

In April 2004, Shahid Aziz was murdered by his racist cell-mate at HMP Leeds, sparking controversy over the similarities of the case with that of Zahid Mubarek.

The Prison Today

HMP Leeds serves magistrates and crown courts in West Yorkshire, and parts of North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. It has 680 cells accommodating up to 1,254 prisoners, making it one of Britain's biggest prisons. Fifty-five spaces are available in the prison's healthcare unit.

A Wing houses normal and vulnerable prisoners and incorporates the Segregation Unit

B and C Wing both house normal location prisoners

D Wing is the Induction Unit incorporates the First Night Centre and Safer Custody cells and Voluntary Drug Testing Unit (VTU), CARAT (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice, Throughcare)/RAPt (Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust) Groupwork

E and F Wings are Voluntary Testing Units and are used as a follow-on from the VTU Induction Unit and include further RAPt and CARATs groupwork.

www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/leeds/