Nearly half of HMP Wandsworth prisoners are using drugs, report finds

Scandal-hit HMP Wandsworth has been described as symbolising ‘the worst of the English prison system’ in a scathing new report.

Prison staff at Wandsworth displayed an ‘inability to account for prisoners during the working day’- despite receiving almost £900,000 of investment since Daniel Khalife’s alleged escape in September 2023.

Following a ‘catastrophic inspection’ from HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), Wandsworth was found to have alarmingly high rates of self-harm, dangerous levels of violence and nearly 50% of prisoners taking drugs.

The report concluded that HMP Wandsworth was ‘not safe’ and 10 self-inflicted deaths had occurred since the last inspection, with a ‘high and rising’ rate of self-harm.

In a scathing review, published on Tuesday, HMIP claimed Wandsworth had come to be ‘symbolic of the problems that characterise what is worst about the English prison system’

The inspection, which took place from April 22 to May 2, found that the prison was ‘severely overcrowded” with 80% of men sharing cells designed to hold one person.

At the time of the inspection, the prison held 1,521 men, despite HMP Wandsworth having a baseline operational capacity of 979 men.

Around three quarters of men reported spending more than 22 hours a day in ‘appalling conditions’ in their cells, the report noted.

Inspectors carrying out two random roll checks were unable to verify this because ‘record keeping was so poor’, with staff unable to account for where prisoners on their wings were.

The report also found that more than half of men said it was easy to get drugs and the smell of cannabis was ‘ubiquitous’.

It concluded that ‘inexperience across every grade of operational staff’ was preventing them from ‘bringing about much needed change’.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said: ‘The level of chaos we found at Wandsworth was deeply shocking.

‘The prison population crisis has undoubtedly compounded the pressures on the jail, but the appalling conditions at Wandsworth did not appear overnight and are the result of sustained decline permitted to happen in plain view of leaders in the jail, HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) and the MoJ whose own systems clearly identified the prison as struggling.’

Mr Taylor added: ‘There was a degree of despondency amongst prisoners at Wandsworth that I have not come across in my time as Chief Inspector.

‘Many well-meaning and hard-working leaders and staff persevered at Wandsworth, but they were often fighting against a tide of cross-cutting, intractable problems that require comprehensive, long-term solutions.

‘For this troubled prison to begin to recover, Wandsworth needs permanent experienced leaders at all levels who are invested in the long-term future of the prison to improve security, safety and guide their less experienced colleagues.’

The MoJ said it was taking measures to bolster prison security and safety, which included the deployment of specialist security and drug staff and the introduction of new leadership.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘This is the reality of a prison system in crisis. Cells are overcrowded, infrastructure is crumbling and our hard-working prison staff are at risk of violence and harm.

‘Our staff deserve better and we are taking immediate action at HMP Wandsworth to do what is necessary to protect the public, lock up dangerous offenders and make prisons safe for the brave staff who work there.’

Andrea Coomber KC, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said it was ‘hard to remember a report as scathing, emphatic, and utterly devastating’ as ‘today’s appraisal of the chaos in Wandsworth’.

Ms Coomber added: ‘The root cause is the fact that Wandsworth is one of the most overcrowded jails in the country – with room for fewer than 1,000 men, while being asked to hold more than 1,500.

‘But this report also lifts the lid on a shocking failure of leadership and culture. It underlines the need for a radical overhaul and work towards a more humane and effective response to crime.’

Daniel Khalife is accused of fleeing custody while being held on remand over spy charges. He allegedly strapped himself underneath a food delivery lorry and was arrested a few days later.

The former soldier denies all the charges against him and is due to stand trial in October.

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