‘A prison system in crisis’: Government responds to damning HMP Wandsworth report with emergency measures

The full report from an inspection of Wandsworth prison has been released today, describing the institution as “symbolic of the problems that characterise what is worst about the English prison system”.

In May, a catastrophic inspection of HMP Wandsworth led Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, to write to the then Secretary of State invoking an Urgent Notification for improvement.

The report found high rates of self-harm, dangerous levels of violence and nearly 50 per cent of inmates taking drugs, as well as crumbling infrastructure and inadequate security measures.

Responding to the Urgent Notification today, the Government announced emergency plans to redirect £100million from across the Prison Service to be spent at Wandsworth over five years, as well as the deployment of specialist staff. 

The Government also announced the introduction of new leadership at the prison, regular drug searches from specialist teams, violence reduction training sessions and improved access to rehabilitative services.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “This is the reality of a prison system in crisis. Cells are overcrowded, infrastructure is crumbling and our hardworking prison staff are at risk of violence and harm.  

“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.” 

The measures come following months of campaigning from Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.

Dr Rosena has raised issues concerning HMP Wandsworth in more than 50 Parliamentary Questions to Government Ministers.

She said: “It is welcome that, with Labour finally in Government, concrete action is being taken to raise standards. These game-changing new funds will be vital in addressing the challenges at the prison.”

At the time of the inspection, the Victorian prison held more than 1,500 men, 80 per cent of whom shared cells designed to hold one person. 

Around three quarters of men reported spending more than 22 hours a day in cells in “appalling conditions”. Inspectors carrying out the checks were unable to verify this because record keeping was so poor, with staff unable to account for where prisoners on their wings were. 

Mr Taylor said: “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, HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice whose own systems clearly identified the prison as struggling.”

Despite the alleged escape by Daniel Khalife last year, key elements of the jail’s security strategy had not been reviewed in ten years. 

Public protection procedures to safeguard children and protect other potential victims had “deteriorated substantially” since the last inspection, and only 35 per cent of inmates said their experience had made them less likely to reoffend.

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

There had been 10 self-inflicted deaths since the last inspection, seven of which had occurred in the last 12 months. The rate of self-harm and violence, including serious assaults, were high and rising, but around 40 per cent of emergency cell bells were not answered within five minutes. 

HMP Wandsworth is the most violent of any British prison, having registered 571 assaults on staff in 2023 – double that of the next-highest prison, HMP Five Wells.

Mr Taylor said: “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.”

Staffing shortfalls underpinned “a myriad of challenges in daily life”, the report said, including new arrivals waiting weeks to have telephone numbers approved so they could speak to their families. 

Prison officer absences also resulted in prisoners being unable to access healthcare services, whilst the new health centre that was supposed to open in 2022 remained unused.

Mr Taylor said: “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. We will be watching closely to see whether this is the case.”

Pictured top: HMP Wandsworth (Picture: HMIP)