A startling revelation has emerged in the aftermath of the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife from Wandsworth prison, as Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures reveal that nearly 40% of prison officers failed to report for duty on the day of the incident.
The 21-year-old former soldier, charged with escaping in a van on September 6th, had taken advantage of a severe staffing shortage. On that fateful day, 80 prison officers out of the expected duty roster did not show up for work, representing a staggering 39% absence rate.
While the government maintains that staffing levels at the prison were “above the minimum” necessary, these revelations have prompted concerns about the overall security and operational effectiveness of the facility. Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Wandsworth, who uncovered the staffing figures through a parliamentary question, asserted that the government must urgently address the staffing crisis within the prison.
Dr. Allin-Khan expressed her deep concern, stating, “It is deeply concerning that on the day Khalife escaped, just 60% of prison officers turned up for duty. With such low staff numbers, mistakes were bound to happen.”
Initial investigations into Daniel Khalife’s escape did not indicate that staffing levels played a contributing role, according to the MoJ. Prisons Minister Damian Hinds clarified, “Overall staffing levels were above the minimum staffing level required by the prison’s Regime Management Plan to deliver a safe and decent regime. All staff in both the kitchen and the gatehouse were on duty on 6 September.”
These revelations coincide with the release of details from an independent investigation into the prison escape. Keith Bristow, the former head of the National Crime Agency, led this inquiry. Khalife’s capture on a west London canal towpath on September 9th, following his apprehension by a plain-clothes counter-terrorism officer, marked a significant turning point in the case.
The investigation aims to scrutinise the procedures at HMP Wandsworth and determine how Khalife obtained the tools necessary for his escape. Additionally, staffing levels and security measures, including checks related to delivery lorries, will be closely examined.
The findings of this investigation will be submitted to Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and the head civil servant at the MoJ. As the inquiry unfolds, the revelations regarding staffing shortages on the day of the escape continue to raise questions about the prison’s capacity to maintain security and protect the public.
