HMP Wandsworth is a ‘place for ruining human lives’, says former inmate

Published

3 months ago

August 22, 2024

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A former inmate of HMP Wandsworth has said the jail is a place for “ruining human lives”.

David Shipley, who spent time at the Category B prison in south west London between 2020 and 2021, said inmates spend 22 hours or more laying on their bunks, staring at the wall or watching daytime TV.

He said many people often resort to taking drugs or drinking because “there is nothing else to do”.

Mr Shipley’s comments come after a report found “81 points of failure” at HMP Wandsworth, in the wake of an alleged prisoner escape.

Former soldier Daniel Abed Khalife is accused of breaking out of the jail on 6 September last year, after allegedly using bedsheets to strap himself under a food truck.

He was arrested three days later and has pleaded not guilty to escaping from lawful custody. He is due to stand trial in October.

The report, by HMP Wandsworth’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), identified a raft of security failings including “antiquated” CCTV cameras that had not worked for over a year and contraband being “alarmingly easy” for prisoners to get hold of.

“It does just seem to get worse and worse and worse,” Mr Shipley said. “And for me, that’s the tragic thing about this.”

“This place has been chewing up people for years and years and years. It does nothing good. It doesn’t do anything to help people be less likely to re-offend. It does a huge amount of harm.

“Wandsworth is just a place for ruining human lives and potential.”

As a result of the report, the IMB called for HMP Wandsworth to be put into emergency measures over its “deeply concerning” findings.

It described the jail as a “failing prison” which was “constrained by staff absence and hindered by underfunding and lack of support from the prison service”.

IMB chairman Matthew Andrews said: “For HMP Wandsworth and the men whose treatment we monitor, this year has been as bad as any in our memory and, by many measures, worse.

“The recently released report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons was highly critical but said little that surprised us.

“Many of the same issues had been raised in previous IMB annual reports and ignored by the Ministry of Justice.”

Analysis: IMB report a damning assessment of Wandsworth’s worst year in memory

By Mollie Malone, home news correspondent

This isn’t the first damning assessment of the state of Wandsworth prison. There have been several this year alone. And it almost certainly won’t be the last.

Its problems are well documented: dangerous overcrowding, high levels of violence and self-harm, security issues, and staff inexperience – with some often unable to account for the whereabouts of offenders. The list really does go on and on.

Today’s IMB audit report serves as yet another reminder of quite how bad it is. In fact, it’s been dubbed as Wandsworth’s worst year in memory.

In May, the chief inspector of prisons issued an “urgent notification” for the prison following an unannounced inspection. This is effectively putting it into special measures.

That used to be rare. But as the state of the prison system across England and Wales continues to deteriorate, it’s becoming more common.

What followed earlier this month was a promise of £100m for the prison to make improvements.

There is also a new governor in place, but the scale of the job is almighty. And it’s not even as if ministers new or old have the answers either.

What’s the alternative? Shut it down? Start from scratch? Not a chance. More than 80% of prisoners at Wandsworth are now sharing cramped cells designed for one.

Shutting it would lose 1,500 prison spaces at a time when the service is quite literally scrimping – with emergency measures announced earlier this week to use police custody suites to hold offenders because of chronic overcrowding after recent riot sentencing.

High-profile issues – the alleged escape of Daniel Khalife last summer for example – almost help the prison’s case insofar as the government knows how seriously they need to take it.

A recent promise of £100m is a start and will be welcomed. But there really is such a long way to go.

Khalife’s alleged escape also prompted multiple reviews and actions, including “previously unavailable funding” being made available.

The report noted a new CCTV system installed in May this year “immediately led to an increase in the number of illegal passes detected”.

It comes after an inspection of HMP Wandsworth in May revealed “chaos” and “appalling conditions”, stemming from “poor leadership at every level”.

The prison was also the focus of a police investigation into a prison officer filmed having sex with an inmate; Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at the end of July.

The government also confirmed a £100m funding package over five years, and additional staff, to deal with HMP Wandsworth, which it calls “one of the most troubled prisons in the country”.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said after the IMB’s annual report: “The new government inherited a justice system in crisis and has been forced to take action and get a grip of the situation across the prison estate, so we can lock up dangerous offenders, protect the public and make prisons safer for hard-working staff.

“Earlier this month, the new Lord Chancellor announced that the Prison Service is deploying extra specialist staff and will redirect £100m to be spent over five years at HMP Wandsworth to ensure immediate action is taken to improve conditions.”

UK

Lucy Letby offered ‘tips’ on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Published

28 mins ago

November 7, 2024

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Lucy Letby offered 'tips' on how to get away with murder, inquiry told

Lucy Letby suggested she could give “tips” to a colleague on how to get away with murder, a public inquiry has heard.

The child serial killer exchanged WhatsApp messages in 2017 with union rep Hayley Griffiths about the US legal drama How To Get Away With Murder.

The discussion took place a year after the neonatal nurse was moved to clerical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital following concerns she may have been deliberately harming babies.

In a message to Letby, Ms Griffiths wrote: “I’m currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder. I’m learning some good tips.”

Letby replied: “I could have given you some tips x”

Ms Griffiths said: “I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it.”

Letby wrote: “I can think of two people you could practice on and will help you cover it up x”

Ms Griffiths replied: “Deal. I will get thinking of a plan. Get the cruise booked as our getaway.”

The pair were working in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department a year before Letby was arrested on suspicion of multiple murders by Cheshire Police.

Ms Griffiths said she was aware of the concerns of foul play and the connection to Letby by September 2016.

Shahram Sharghy, representing some of the families of Letby’s victims, asked: “Given the severity of the allegations that were made, and would you agree they are possibly the most serious allegations that anybody could make against a healthcare professional, were you making light of those allegations when you were referring to potentially committing a crime?”

Ms Griffiths answered: “No.”

Mr Sharghy asked: “Can you even begin to imagine and put yourself in the position of the families of the babies who were harmed when they see those messages?”

Ms Griffiths said: “I know… I am so remorseful. As soon as I saw them myself I was upset and I can’t begin to imagine… I can only apologise and say I have learned. I can’t go back in time but I have reflected absolutely on it.”

Earlier, Ms Griffiths told counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC: “It was nothing more than a conversation. However, I truly and deeply regret having started that conservation… this is completely unprofessional, poor judgement on my behalf and completely insensitive. And for that, I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart.”

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders.

She was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.

The Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding her crimes is expected to sit until early 2015. The findings are expected by late autumn that year.

UK

Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Published

9 hours ago

November 6, 2024

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Newcastle: Three men arrested in connection with deadly house explosion and on suspicion of cannabis production

Three men have been arrested in connection with a deadly house explosion in Newcastle.

Seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, who was in his 30s, were killed following the blast in Violet Close, in the Benwell and Elswick area of the city in October.

Police said at the time that six others were taken to hospital “with varying injuries” after the blast and subsequent fire.

Three men – two in their 30s and one in his 50s – have been arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter, and the production of a Class B drug, namely cannabis, Northumbria Police said.

They all remain in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Smith said: “This has been a truly tragic incident which resulted in the loss of two lives.

“As a result of our ongoing enquiries, three men have today been arrested in connection with the explosion.

“Our investigation will remain ongoing as we seek to provide answers to what has happened.

“We would continue to ask people to avoid speculation surrounding this incident both online and in the community.”

The blast tore through a row of six properties divided into two flats each.

Drone footage showed how six flats in the middle of the building appeared to have been completely destroyed by the explosion and fire, while piles of debris could be seen in the street outside.

Superintendent Darren Adams, from Northumbria Police, said on the day of the fire: “As a result of the incident in the early hours of this morning, a seven-year-old boy has sadly passed away.

“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he tragically died at the scene.

“This is a truly devastating outcome.”

UK

Prince William praises ‘amazing’ Kate as he shares update after her cancer treatment

Published

9 hours ago

November 6, 2024

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Prince William praises 'amazing' Kate as he shares update after her cancer treatment

Prince William has given an update on the Princess of Wales’s health, describing her as “amazing”.

Ahead of tonight’s Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town, he was asked how his wife Kate was doing and replied: “She’s doing really well thanks. Hopefully she’s watching tonight and cheering me on.

“She’s been amazing this whole year and I know she’ll be really keen to see tonight be a success.”

Kate revealed in March she was having preventative chemotherapy following the discovery of pre-cancerous cells.

In September, she announced she had completed her treatment and said her focus now is on “staying cancer free”.

Throughout the year, Prince William hasn’t discussed his wife’s diagnosis, despite still continuing with his own public duties.

William answered questions after taking part in rehearsals for tonight’s Earthshot Awards, the environmental prize he launched in 2021 to try to inject some optimism into the climate crisis debate.

Since he’s been in Cape Town he’s been spotted wearing a bracelet with the word ‘papa’ on it, given to him by his daughter Princess Charlotte.

He explained: “This is a relic from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for, and she gave it to me when I came away so I’ve promised her that I’d wear it and try not to lose it while I was out here.”

He also shared how he’s trying to make sure his three children feel involved in his environmental work, including doing things around the house.

The prince said: “Every family tries to do what they can to help with the environment and we go through the basics of recycling and making sure we minimise water use, turning lights off when you leave the house. We’re sensible with what we do around the environment. I think every family has those conversations.

“The Earthshot is trying to be more global than that – we’re trying to do big-scale ambition and business. I’ve brought the children along on that journey and I hope they’re proud of what we are trying to do here which is to galvanise that energy and enthusiasm to make real impact.”

Asked about the tough political climate for the environment right now, Prince William didn’t make any comment about the US election result and Donald Trump’s climate credentials, but said: “Everyone wants some hope and some optimism and Earthshot comes with urgent optimism.

“And as you’ll see tonight the amount of youth from Africa who will be in here – they’ll be letting you know and letting everyone know that it matters to them.

“Without them, the future is looking pretty bleak so these are the game changers, the innovators, the inventors who are going to make the world a better place for us in future.”

The annual Earthshot Prize awards five entrepreneurs, innovators, startups or conservationists with £1m each to help scale their ideas to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.

This is the fourth year the awards have been held.