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The Wandsworth prison escape has thrown the chronic state of British prisons into the spotlight. In this post we review the escape and consider vehicle searching practices in prisons.
In presenting the information below, we are very conscious that UK prisons are for the most part drastically overcrowded and frequently suffer inadequate levels of experienced operational staffing, which has a serious impact on staff morale and absenteeism, as well as leading to a level of frustration and despair among inmates.
Inevitably, as with any large organisation, when under extreme pressure, even experienced staff are not imune to the possibility of making a mistake. But comprehensive managerial processes and procedures should ensure these can normally be quickly remedied.
While the focus of this article centres on the recent escape of inmate Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth and the implications it raises, we should acknowledge that many politicians, experts and other interested parties, continue to call for urgent change. The need for a major review and overhaul of the UK justice system, prisons and staffing levels along with the retention and rehabilitation of offenders, has been widely recognised by successive governments over decades and remains a pressing need.
Government Response to Wandsworth Prison Escape
In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg justice secretary Alex Chalk appeared to level blame for the escape of suspected terrorist Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth on staff working at the prison. In the interview he claimed that when 21 year old Mr Khalife carried out his audacious escape security protocols were in place and the prison was adequately staffed.
The justice secretary had previously announced an independent investigation into the escape that will include two urgent reviews. The first is intended to consider the placement and categorisation of all inmates at the jail and the second will investigate all of those who are currently in custody facing charges for terror offences.
In his interview with Laura Kuensberg the justice secretary made it clear he was blaming human error for the escape. He acknowledged that relevant security protocols were in place, including a mandatory headcount that`s required to be conducted whenever goods are unloaded from a lorry, along with vehicle searches carried out when trucks enter and leave prison premises.
When asked if prison staff had followed the security rules Mr Chalk acknowledged this was “the real question”, clearly suggesting this is where he suspected failings had occurred. He said this is precisely why an independent investigation was needed to determine the deficiencies that had allowed Daniel Khalife to escape from the prison.
How Daniel Khalife Escaped from Wandsworth Prison
Described as a `Call of Duty obsessed loner` some have suggested Khalife’s prison escape may have been inspired by the computer game, which he enjoyed. He had previously served in the 22 Signal Regiment, stationed at the Ministry of Defence’s Beacon Barracks in Stafford. Charged with terror offences in January 2023, after being accused of leaving fake bombs at a military base, he was on remand at Wandsworth Prison.
On the morning of September 6th Khalife had been working in the Wandsworth Prison kitchen, wearing a chef’s uniform consisting of a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and steel toe-cap boots. A Bidfood food delivery van that left the prison at 7:30 a.m. is suspected was allegedly used to facilitate his escape. The prison’s “unaccounted prisoner” contingency plans were activated at 7:50 a.m. which included locking down the prison and informing the local police. At 8:37 the police force stopped the delivery van in East Putney and strapping was discovered underneath the vehicle.
When vehicles enter or exit Wandsworth Prison they pass through a secure area known as an “airlock”. Operational support prison staff with gatekeeping responsibilities are required to conduct vehicle inspections in this secure airlock space. The vehicle inspection process includes the examination of the underside of all vehicles along with the inside and the vehicle roof.
However, feedback from a delivery driver who had previously made dozens of trips to and from Wandsworth Prison alleged that the underside of his vehicle was never checked by prison security staff. The driver told the BBC that the only security procedure employed at the prison involved a “pat down” and checks inside the vehicle.
Extensive Manhunt
The 21 year old escapee was finally apprehended about 14 miles from the prison at 10:41 a.m. on Saturday 9th September, 3 days after his escape. An extensive manhunt had taken place with early suggestions that Khalife had received support and may have quickly fled the country.
The extensive search involved over 150 police officers and security staff. Enhanced security checks, implemented at the Port of Dover, prompted the enforcement of “Operation Brock Zero”, closing the busy M20 motorway between Junctions 8 and 9.
The fugitive was finally apprehended after being pulled off a bike by a plain-clothed police officer on a canal towpath in West London. He is reported to have had a Waitrose cool-bag of groceries along with a sleeping bag and appeared to have a change of clothes. It is also reported that he had cash and a mobile phone when arrested.
Wandsworth Prison Described as Squalid
Wandsworth prison is a category B men`s prison built in 1851 with a capacity of 1,600 across five prison wings. Prison inspections have consistently identified massive overcrowding with as many as 60% to 80% more prisoners than the prison is designed to cope with. In the most recent report from His Majesty`s Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP), carried out in June 2022, it was said that Wandsworth Prison "remains one of the most overcrowded prisons in the country with most prisoners sharing a cell built for one".
This latest report described living conditions for prisoners as “very poor” with dirty, graffiti covered cells, some of which don`t have windows. Inspectors noted large amounts of rubbish in exercise yards, attracting vermin, along with piles of litter on prison wings and thrown from cell windows. The prison hospital apparently did not meet infection prevention and control standards and half of the mental health units were in the process of being refurbished.
A former inmate at the prison described it as: "appallingly run, chaotic, and understaffed". Although the prison apparently had a full complement of staff, as acknowledged by the justice secretary, around a third of them were on sick leave at any one time resulting in massive understaffing. An article, written by an ex-inmate and published in The Spectator, describes how understaffing, poor management and disorganisation resulted in the prison losing track of prisoners for extended periods of time.
The state of UK prisons was highlighted from Germany this week when a court in Karlsruhe decided against the extradition of an Albanian man "in view of the state of the British prison system". A member of the Law Society described the decision as a “severe rebuke” and “an embarrassment for the UK”. The Albanian man in this case lived in the UK and was accused of trafficking around 5kg of cocaine and laundering about £330,000. Westminster magistrates court issued an international arrest warrant asking for him to be returned to the UK, after the accused had travelled to Germany. He was identified, arrested and held in extradition custody. The German court sought reassurances from the UK authorities about prison conditions but failing to receive the required assurances the German court determined the extradition of the Albanian to the UK as “currently inadmissible” due to the state of British prisons.
Questions Raised by the Prison Escape
The escape of Daniel Khalife from Wandsworth prison has raised a number of questions and criticism of the state of UK prisons. Concerns regarding security at Wandsworth prison were previously raised after an inmate escaped back in 2019. An inspection report, published in 2022, noted that a “serious security breach” had led to this previous escape.
Questions being asked about the Khalife escape include: Should Khalife have been in Wandsworth Prison? Serious terrorist suspects are normally held in Belmarsh, a high security prison. The decision that resulted in Khalife being held in the category B Wandsworth Prison is therefore of particular interest. In the wake of the Khalife escape and recapture, 40 inmates have already been moved from Wandsworth. It is assumed this is due to them being held in the wrong category of prison.
Another question being asked is: How did Khalife slip out of the prison kitchen and evade security checks when making his escape? People want to know how it was possible for this suspected terrorist to have gained such a privileged role, working in the prison kitchens. And how did he evade prison guards to gain access to the Bidfood delivery van, strap himself to the underside and make his escape without detection? Importantly, how did he avoid being spotted by prison security guards as the vehicle passed through the “airlock” security checking process?
People are also asking this relevant question: Were overcrowding or staff shortages to blame? Independent prison inspections have clearly pointed out how conditions improved when prisoner numbers were reduced. And while it is claimed the number of staff was adequate at Wandsworth prison there doesn’t appear to have been enough staff capacity to cope with high levels of ongoing sick leave that reduce the available prison workforce by as much as 30% day-to-day.
Why Vehicles Need to be Searched
The responsibilities, activities and duties of operational support grade staff at UK prisons include:
“gate/portal duties:ensure the secure entry and exit of staff, visitors, vehicles; carry out searches of staff, prisoners, visitors, contractors and vehicles; issue and collect staff keys/radios”
Vehicles are required to be searched both entering and exiting prisons. As noted, a secure “airlock” area is used to conduct these important vehicle searches. All searches must be carried out in accordance with the government’s searching policy framework and staff responsible for conducting vehicle searches are required to be “competent in vehicle searches”. They must know their responsibilities and they need to be provided “with the necessary equipment to support them in this task, for example, mirrors and torches.” A system of managerial checks must also be in place to ensure compliance with searching policies.
UK Prisons have a significant drug problem with weapons, telephones and tools amongst the items commonly smuggled-in. Prison staff engaged in conducting vehicle searches need to be trained in what to look out for and how to use equipment, including under-vehicle search mirrors, to carry out thorough, effective vehicle searches. It must be understood that prison gatekeeping staff are required to fulfil their duties often in highly pressured circumstances where the flow of traffic must be maintained.
Detailed Vehicle Inspection with our Illuminated Trolley Mirror
Our CV650 illuminated trolley mirror has been specifically designed to support the needs of those responsible for vehicle searching and inspection. It`s robust, lightweight and uses a large size mirror (320mm x 320mm) alongside a high performance LED lightbar delivering ultra bright, 650 lumens illumination at 0.5 metres. Read more about our innovative search and inspection trolley mirror here.
Thoroughly searching underneath vehicles is very challenging, especially when looking for smaller concealed items such as weapons, drugs, explosives and contraband. Without the aid of our trolley mirror the only reliable option for security operatives would be to crawl under the vehicle armed with a torch. Our trolley mirror can be easily wheeled into position enabling the operator to gain a clear, brightly illuminated view of whatever might be hidden.
We also offer a range of essential search and inspection mirrors in various sizes and designs, ideal for a wide range of applications. Our compact personal folding pocket search and inspection mirrors, for example, are widely used by customs and excise officers and security professionals as well as many tradespeople.
For more information on Prisoner Escape Highlights Importance of Vehicle Searching talk to Insight Security