Wandsworth prison slammed for ‘violence and overcrowding’, with some prisoners locked up for 22-hours-a-day

A prison has come in for harsh criticism in a report that shows prisoners are living in vermin-infested wings, with overcrowding forcing some to stay in cells for 22-hours-a-day.

HMP Wandsworth is one of the oldest in the country and has more than 1,400 adult and young adult prisoners.

A report by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons found that violence had increased since the last inspection at the prison and said it was “concerning” that many residential officers were unclear about their role to reduce violence and “lacked confidence in challenging poor behaviour on the wings”.

The report said: “The prison remained very overcrowded, with many prisoners living in very poor conditions.

“Prisoners were moved into dirty, graffiti-covered cells, some of which had no windows. Cleaning cupboards continued to be in disarray and there were large amounts of rubbish in exercise yards attracting vermin.”

The report highlighted overcrowding in the prison as a key concern, compounded by managers not filling all available activity spaces and poor attendance in education.

This meant time spent out of cells was “too limited” and more than half the population was unemployed – and these prisoners were locked up for 22-hours-a-day.

The report found that support for prisoners leaving HMP Wandsworth was “poor”, as less than half those leaving had a place to stay on the night of their release.

There was little assessment of need and no service for remand prisoners who made up the overwhelming majority of the population.

Further concerns were established for patients requiring transfers to secure mental health inpatient
services who waited “far too long for a bed”.

Only four of the 18 patients transferred to a mental health hospital under the Mental Health Act in the previous six months had done so in fewer than 14 days.

The remaining 14 patients waited from 15 to 226 days, which the report found was “unacceptable”.

Commenting on the findings, Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: “Since the previous inspection, the governor had left the establishment and a substantive governor was due to start the week after this review of progress.

“The interim governor had made reasonable progress in improving oversight and long-term planning.

“However, the problem of the very high rates of non-effective staff was unchanged since the inspection. Without progress in this area, outcomes at Wandsworth will continue to struggle, making it a clear priority for the incoming governor.”

The Ministry of Justice has so far not replied to requests for a comment.

Pictured top: A cell at HMP Wandsworth (Picture: HM Inspectorate of Prisons)