HMP Wandsworth inmates given thousands of coats after heating failure

Thousands of extra coats and blankets were distributed to inmates at HMP Wandsworth after a failure in the prison's heating system caused temperatures in cells to plummet. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for the south-west London prison reported the issues with heating and hot water in November last year as a 'loss of service'.

During the period of the heating failure, temperatures within the cells were recorded as low as 12C. In response, an additional 1,500 coats, 1,000 blankets, and 2,000 instant food items were ordered for the male inmates. The prison, which is described as the second most overcrowded in the country, houses significantly more individuals than its intended capacity.

Conditions and Overcrowding

The IMB's report highlighted that prisoners at the category B jail are being held in 'unsafe, overcrowded, unsanitary and squalid conditions'. The report also noted that the 'severe physical limitations of the Victorian buildings remain, with inhumane living conditions'.

HMP Wandsworth is operating at between 60% and 80% over its design capacity, with the majority of prisoners sharing cells originally intended for single occupancy. The IMB also identified staffing as an urgent concern, with approximately one-third of staff absent or unavailable daily on average, leading to increased time spent by inmates locked in their cells.

Despite these challenges, the chairman of HMP Wandsworth's IMB, Matthew Andrews, commended the prison's management and staff. He stated, 'The commitment of a strong senior management team and a core of dedicated staff was commendable and meant the prison had a relatively good year. This was achieved despite the ongoing and chronic staff shortages.'

The report warned that heating problems at the prison will persist until the systems are fully replaced, rather than being addressed through piecemeal repairs.