HMP Wandsworth, a category B prison in south-west London, has been identified as the most overcrowded prison in the United Kingdom, according to newly released data from the Ministry of Justice. The Victorian-era facility currently houses 1,444 inmates, significantly exceeding its designed capacity of 894, resulting in an overcrowding rate of 62%.
Overcrowding Crisis
The Howard League for Penal Reform reports that category B prisons are typically the most overcrowded, with a constantly fluctuating population. To accommodate the excess numbers, authorities resort to double-bunking inmates in single cells or placing three prisoners in cells meant for two. Following HMP Wandsworth, the most overcrowded prisons are HMP Leeds (61% over capacity) and HMP Durham (59%).
Recent Scandals and Incidents
The prison has faced a series of high-profile incidents in recent years. In September 2023, former soldier Daniel Khalife, later convicted of spying for Iran, escaped by clinging to the underside of a food delivery truck. He was recaptured days later by a plainclothes detective on a canal towpath. In 2025, the mistaken release of Algerian national Brahim Kaddour-Cherif drew further scrutiny. Additionally, former prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was sentenced to 15 months in prison for having sex with an inmate in a cell, with footage of the act circulating on social media.
Inspections and Special Measures
In 2024, HMP Wandsworth was placed under special measures, one of ten prisons issued an urgent notice to improve since November 2022. Inspectors attributed the turmoil to a 'sustained decline permitted to happen in plain view of leaders.' They noted that prison guards often did not know the whereabouts of prisoners on their wings, despite an investment of nearly £900,000 following the escape. However, a subsequent review in April 2025 acknowledged that a new governor had brought 'energy and focus,' prioritizing safety and decency. While there has been substantial investment in staffing and training, the overall experience level remains low. A report from the prison's independent monitoring board in October 2025 highlighted recurrent staffing issues, with an average of one-third of staff absent daily. The board described living conditions in the 170-year-old crumbling building as 'unacceptable' and 'inhumane.'
