A series of serious security failures at HMP Wandsworth has thrust the scandal-plagued Victorian jail back into the spotlight, following the mistaken release of a prisoner who remained at large for over a week.
A Catalogue of Errors
The latest incident involved Algerian inmate Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, who was arrested in Finsbury Park on November 7. This came nine days after he was erroneously set free from the south-west London prison. This blunder occurred less than a week after a similar error at HMP Chelmsford, where migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu was incorrectly released instead of being transferred to an immigration removal centre.
A History of Turmoil and Decline
HMP Wandsworth's troubles were dramatically highlighted in September 2023, when former soldier Daniel Khalife escaped by clinging to the underside of a food delivery truck. Khalife, later convicted of spying for Iran, was captured by a plainclothes detective three days later.
In 2024, HM Inspectorate of Prisons delivered a damning assessment, stating the chaos found at the "severely overcrowded" facility resulted from a "sustained decline permitted to happen in plain view of leaders". This criticism came despite an investment of almost £900,000 since Khalife's escape.
Glimmers of Hope Amidst Staffing Crisis
A more recent review in April this year noted that a new governor had brought "energy and focus" to the prison, prioritising safety and decency. Inspectors found "substantial investment" in staffing and training, but overall experience levels remained low.
However, a persistent staffing crisis continues to undermine progress. An October report by the prison's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) revealed this as a recurrent problem, with an average of a third of staff absent each day.
The prison's history of blunders, from mistaken releases to a high-profile escape, paints a picture of an institution struggling to maintain basic security and order amidst significant operational challenges.
