Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor wrote to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk after ‘deeply concerning’ inspection findings.
A watchdog has called for scandal-hit Wandsworth prison to be put into emergency measures amid concerns over failings in security and severe problems with overcrowding, drugs, violence and self-harm.
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. Mr Taylor said: “The poor outcomes we found at Wandsworth are systemic and cultural failures and stemmed from poor leadership at every level of the prison, from HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice.”
The PGA said staff at the jail were in an “almost impossible situation”, the governor at Wandsworth “decided to leave” earlier this year and “resigned during the inspection”, adding that this was “undoubtedly due in part to the personal toll that running a prison like Wandsworth in current times takes”.
Many inmates were “in despair”, he said as he highlighted how prisoners on one wing had not been able to shower for five days. Prisons minister Edward Argar said the “deeply concerning report” shows the jail continues to face “significant challenges” and it was “clear that on top of the additional support we’ve already provided since September to improve safety and security, including nearly £1 million of upgrades, we need to go further still.”
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