Governor at jail where accused escapee Daniel Khalife is held quits service

The governor of crisis-hit Wandsworth prison has quit the service ahead of an urgent notification placing the jail under special measures.

Katie Price is understood to have tendered her resignation after facing chronic staff shortages, high levels of violence and dilapidated Victorian infrastructure.

HMP Wandsworth shot to national prominence when accused spy Daniel Khalife allegedly escaped from the jail last September, sparking a nationwide hunt before he was caught four days later.

In the wake of that incident, Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, said it was one of a number of Victorian jails that should be closed if there was capacity to place its 1,600 prisoners elsewhere.

A Prison Governors’ Association source said: “It is one of the most overcrowded prisons. It has not had the maintenance money it should.

“It is very difficult to run a good prison when it is overcrowded, the buildings are not invested in and you are finding it difficult to retain and recruit staff, which is the case with Wandsworth.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We do not comment on staffing matters.”

It is understood that Mr Taylor will this week issue an urgent notification on HMP Wandsworth, which means he has “urgent and significant concern” about the performance of the facility.

It means Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, has 28 days to publish an action plan to improve the jail before a follow-up visit by the chief inspector to check progress.

Last October, local watchdogs branded the prison “unsafe and inhumane”.

‘Violence continues to rise’

Wandsworth’s independent monitoring board (IMB) found that years of underinvestment in the site, facilities and staff at the prison had led to an unsafe environment where “violence levels continue to rise”.

The report stated that during the past year, staff shortages had undermined the prison’s ability to function effectively, with the number of available officers rarely reaching above 50 per cent.

It reported that assaults had risen by more than 20 per cent in all areas, including assaults on staff.

Of the 524 assaults on prisoners by prisoners, 301 were referred to the police.

The IMB warned that conditions at the category B prison “remained inhumane”, with the Victorian buildings continuing to deteriorate.

11 showers for 265 men

Overcrowding was also raised as a concern by the monitoring board, with most men sharing cells designed for single occupancy.

In two wings of the prison, there were only 11 shower stalls for 265 men, the board noted.

It came as it emerged that some prisoners will be freed up to 70 days early after ministers quietly extended an emergency early release scheme to alleviate the prison overcrowding crisis.

It will take effect from May 23 amid fears that prisons could run out of space this summer without action to reduce overcrowding.

It is the second extension since the early release scheme was introduced in October.

In March, it was increased from 18 days to a maximum of 60 days.

The Prison Governors’ Association said: “We confirm the governor of Wandsworth has resigned from [the prison service], a decision made some time before the announced HMP Inspection.

“As a sign of loyalty to her team and Wandsworth she agreed to remain in the post until the inspection concluded.”