'Catastrophic' prison now has 'renewed purpose'

A south London prison which had a "catastrophic" inspection last year is now more stable and has a "renewed sense of purpose", according to the prisons' watchdog.

Last year, HMP Wandsworth was in "chaos" and inmates were in greater "despair" than the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, had ever seen.

In recent years, the category B prison had attracted a high profile after a prisoner escaped and a prison officer was found to have had sex with an inmate.

Now, an inspection from 31 March to 2 April found that although the prison still had "a long way to go", its improvement was down to a change in governor as well as major investment in staffing and training, including the safer custody and security teams.

The watchdog found new governor Andy Davy had "brought energy and focus" to tackling safety and decency at the prison, since taking over the role last summer.

According to the LDRS, the report said the rate of positive drug tests was lower than at the previous inspection - although still too high - while rates of violence and self-harm had decreased, including the level of assaults roughly halving.

Former governor Katie Price resigned during the previous inspection, which laid bare severe overcrowding, rising violence and widespread use of illegal drugs, ahead of an urgent notification placing the prison in special measures.

The watchdog did find ongoing failures in security at the prison, despite the high-profile escape of former soldier Daniel Khalife on the underside of a food delivery truck in September 2023.

Khalife, 23, was jailed for 14 years and three months in February for spying for Iran and escaping from prison.

A former prison officer was also jailed for 15 months in January after she was filmed having sex with an inmate in a cell.

Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, was identified by senior prison staff after the video went viral.

According to the LDRS, the latest inspection found the level of experience and capability among staff was still low but the prison was calmer, as its capacity had been reduced by 150 spaces and was due to be cut by another 150 spaces.

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