Warning: Wandsworth Prison Unsafe and Inhumane, According to Watchdog Report
A report from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) has labelled HMP Wandsworth as unsafe and inhumane. The report cites a significant increase in violence over the past year, with assaults rising by over 20% in all areas, and ongoing issues with understaffing and deteriorating facilities. The IMB argues that the Victorian-era prison is failing inmates and hindering chances of rehabilitation upon release.
The report covered the year from 1 June 2022 to 31 May 2023 and found that underinvestment in Wandsworth and the prison system as a whole had left the site with inadequate resources and infrastructure. Most men are forced to share small cells designed for single occupancy, with overcrowding a persistent issue.
The prison’s new multimillion-pound healthcare centre which was scheduled to open more than a year ago remains unused, and staff shortages are hampering the prison’s functioning. Those shortages mean the number of available officers rarely exceed 50%.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service acknowledged the seriousness of the issues raised, claiming that measures have been put in place to improve the safety and conditions at the prison. However, the IMB argues that there has been no real progress over the past year, and recent events demonstrate the shortcomings of the prison system.
The IMB states that Wandsworth is not unique in its conditions and highlights Pentonville in north London as another Victorian-era prison facing severe overcrowding and low staffing levels. The prison is due to close by 2025, and there is a growing consensus that the current prison system is not fit for purpose. Changes are needed to improve the welfare and rehabilitation prospects of inmates, but progress remains slow
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