Prison
Cat Reception, Category C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Wandsworth
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 27 September 2022
HMP Wandsworth, a severely overcrowded reception prison holding 1,385 prisoners against a CNA of 961, faced significant challenges during the reporting period. Critical staff shortages severely impacted regime delivery and contributed to the prison being deemed unsafe due to rising violence and self-harm. Living conditions in the dilapidated Victorian buildings remained inhumane, while healthcare services suffered from long waiting times and poor inpatient facilities, and resettlement support for the majority remand population was inadequate.
Positive Findings
The Board commended management and staff for their dedication and sensitive operation during challenging times, particularly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Food provision was varied, tasty, and well-received by prisoners, achieving high satisfaction rates. The communications team, notably Radio Wanno, achieved commendable success, including an award. The Board was also impressed by the compassion of CSU staff and the support provided by the employment advisory board for resettlement efforts.
Key Concerns
Staffing
The prison has significant staffing problems which were adversely affecting the regime. While the prison may theoretically have a full complement of staff, between 30% and 40% were either absent or on restricted duties. The majority of prison officers had less than two years’ experience and this lack of ‘prison craft’ was an issue.
Overcrowding
Repeated
HMP Wandsworth continues to be severely overcrowded. The inhumane conditions, with many prisoners living in very poor conditions, will only improve with substantial structural changes and significantly fewer prisoners.
Safety
Repeated
The prison was not safe, and that view has not changed, with a rising level of violence. ONS data show that HMP Wandsworth is one of the most violent prisons in England and Wales.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The fabric of the prisoner accommodation was unacceptable, with very little refurbishment carried out to address inadequate and poor showers, broken windows, mould, leaking plumbing/rooves, frequent heating failures, pigeon faeces, and rodents. Essential CCTV and PID systems upgrades, authorised over two years ago, have been significantly delayed, with completion pushed back to 2025.
Mental Health
Repeated
The Jones and Addison inpatient units regularly reported poor conditions, particularly in shower and toilet areas, long waits for repairs, and inadequate cleaning. HMIP described the units as ‘not a fit place to care for seriously unwell patients’, and refurbishment of six cells in Addison has been halted.
Resettlement/Release
Housing services are only offered to sentenced prisoners, leaving over 70% of the remand population without this vital support. Basic custody screening tool 2 (BCST2) meetings for new prisoners' housing issues were suspended due to staff shortages.
Safety
ACCT reviews were often chaired by officers who did not know the prisoners, and scheduling issues meant multidisciplinary agencies, particularly mental health representatives, frequently could not attend. Use of a dedicated ACCT review room was disappointing.
Mental Health
A young prisoner with apparent mental health issues has spent over 200 days in the CSU while awaiting an assessment from Broadmoor Hospital, which the Board considered inhumane and unacceptable.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels were a serious problem throughout the year, with operational duty staff often reduced by over 30% due to sick leave, maternity, training, restricted duties, and unauthorised absence, impacting regime delivery. HMIP noted 44% of staff were absent or unable to perform normal duties. The majority of officers had less than two years' experience, exacerbating staffing challenges.
Healthcare
Healthcare services were provided, though adapted due to restrictions, leading to significant increases in waiting times for appointments. The Jones and Addison inpatient units suffered from poor conditions, including inadequate cleaning and long repair waits, with HMIP noting that mental health patient living conditions did not meet infection control standards. Mental health referrals were consistently high, averaging over 500 per month, and mental health representation at ACCT reviews was often lacking.
Regime & Daily Life
Due to staff shortages and COVID-19 restrictions, prisoners endured a significantly restricted regime, sometimes locked in cells for 23.5 hours daily. Exercise, gym, and induction sessions were frequently cancelled. By the end of the reporting period, average time out of cell, including activities, had increased to 2.5 hours per day, and team sports gradually resumed.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Discrimination | 2 | 2 | — |
| Food | 8 | 3 | |
| Healthcare (including dental) | 15 | 16 | |
| Other | 20 | 11 | |
| Property (including clothing) | 24 | 25 | |
| Safeguarding | 1 | 0 | |
| Staff care | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 115 | 95 |
Recommendations (12)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 4
Home Office: 1
Other: 1
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
The prison has significant staffing problems which were adversely affecting the regime. While the prison may theoretically have a full complement of staff, between 30% and 40% were either absent or on restricted duties. Will the Minister provide senior management with the resources and support to address this issue?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 2
At the time of this report, housing services are only offered to sentenced prisoners. When will this be extended to unsentenced prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
HMP Wandsworth continues to be severely overcrowded. In response to last year’s annual report, the Minister wrote on 1 December 2021 that moving prisoners out of HMP Wandsworth to free up space in double occupancy cells would only create overcrowding in other establishments. While this may be factually correct it does not alleviate the inhumane conditions at HMP Wandsworth. Would the Minister provide a more constructive response?
Ministry of Justice
Overcrowding
Response
In response to last year’s annual report, the Minister wrote on 1 December 2021 that moving prisoners out of HMP Wandsworth to free up space in double occupancy cells would only create overcrowding in other establishments.
Recommendation 4
Office for National Statistics (ONS) data show that HMP Wandsworth is one of the most violent prisons in England and Wales. This is in large part linked to the inhumane conditions and overcrowding. Is there a programme to build new capacity to alleviate overcrowding as well as providing spaces for the anticipated rise in prisoner numbers?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
In previous annual reports we reported that the fabric of the prisoner accommodation was unacceptable. The recent HMIP report expressed a similar conclusion. Problems included inadequate and poor showers, broken windows, mould, leaking plumbing, leaking rooves, frequent heating failures, pigeon faeces, rodents and other issues. Very little refurbishment work has been carried out and much of it was of a poor standard. When will the service start to address this issue with the urgency and resources required?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The previous report noted that the new healthcare facility, when it opens, will not include any cell accommodation to relieve pressure on the totally inadequate Jones and Addison units. HMIP recently described the units as ‘not a fit place to care for seriously unwell patients’. Funding was secured for the refurbishment of six cells in Addison, and work began in March and subsequently halted. When will that work be completed to an acceptable standard?
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Rodents and pigeons were a serious health risk to everyone in the establishment. Rats, either dead or alive, were an all too frequent sight. This was a serious matter and could lead to the spread of zoonotic diseases. What is being done to eliminate this problem?
Governor / Director
Health
Recommendation 8
The number of out of use cells, particularly in the care and separation unit (CSU), was a concern. Is there a plan to accelerate the repair of damaged cells and to a standard that reduces the potential for future damage?
Governor / Director
Estate
Recommendation 9
A young prisoner, with apparent mental health issues, has been in the CSU since early October 2021. What is being done to resolve this unacceptable and inhumane situation?
Governor / Director
Mental Health
Recommendation 10
What is the strategy and timetable for restarting the key worker programme?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 11
Over 50 immigration detainees have been held in the prison for over 18 months. What is being done to speed up the repatriation, extradition and deportation processes?
Home Office
Immigration
Recommendation 12
The probation service has suffered from low staffing levels for both prison and community-based staff, making it impossible for probation to deliver an acceptable service. What plans are there to increase staffing to a satisfactory level?
Other
(other)
Staffing
Other IMB Reports for Wandsworth
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
31 Mar 2025
IRP
8 May 2024
Urgent Notification
22 Apr 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 1
Respect: 1
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.