Wandsworth prison dealing with second security issue in a month
By Kate Dennett
A prison has been hit by a second security breach scandal in a month after a locksmith was arrested amid fears that copies of keys were given to inmates.
A man who worked for Gov Facility Services Ltd has been suspended after security concerns in HMP Wandsworth.
Police attended HMP Wandsworth on 13 September and arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. This followed a criminal allegation made to police earlier that day.
He was taken to a West London police station and has since been released. He remains under investigation pending further enquiries.
A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “HMP Wandsworth has increased security at the gate and is operating extra identity checks as a result of a security incident. It would be inappropriate to comment further while a police investigation is ongoing.”
The locks across the prison have since been replaced.
This is the second time security concerns have hit HMP Wandsworth.
A prison officer was jailed on 3 September for smuggling £90,000 worth of contraband into HMP Wandsworth.
Croydon resident Patrick Dadey, 30, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty at Kingston Crown Court.
He was transporting mobile phones, cannabis, steroids and tobacco into the prison and leaving them in the laundry room for inmates.
There is currently no evidence that prison security keys have been replicated or passed on to prisoners.
A Gov Facility Services Ltd spokeswoman said: “A member of staff has been suspended following his arrest by police. It would be inappropriate to comment further while their investigation is ongoing.”
The final costs for replacing the locks are yet to be determined.
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