Masked and bloody prisoners run amok 'at HMP Wandsworth'

2023-01-26

Masked prisoners run amok and pose with bloody inmates ‘at HMP Wandsworth’ while ‘refusing to re-enter their cells during 23-hour lockdown’

HMP Wandsworth has operated a ’23-hour lockdown’ since the pandemic
Footage has emerged of prisoners ‘rioting’ and ‘covered in blood’ in the C-wing

Shocking footage shows the moment masked prisoners ran amok as they reportedly refused to re-enter their cells during a 23-hour lockdown.

Inmates – thought to be in HMP Wandsworth’s C-wing – can be seen covered in blood and scratches as they shout and point at the camera in a clip filmed earlier this week.

The jail has adopted a ’23-hour’ lockdown since Covid – meaning prisoners are only let out of their cells for one hour each day.

The footage shows chaos unfolding as items are thrown and blood can be seen on the ground.

Inmates – thought to be in HMP Wandsworth’s C-wing – can be seen covered in blood and scratches

At the end of the video they shout: ‘Prisoners on 23-hour lockdown! 23-hour lockdown!’

The inmates had grown ‘frustrated’ at the time spent in their cells and refused to re-enter them after their hour break, according to a source.

This meant that riot officers had to be sent in to restore order.

The source said: ‘The prisoners are getting frustrated and I think riots like these are going to become more and more frequent.’

HMP Wandsworth’s C-wing houses around 400 inmates.

The Category B prison, built in 1851, is one of the largest in western Europe – with over 1,500 inmates in total.

The lockdowns have seen an increase in violence in the prison as serious attacks doubled in the six months before an inspection last June, according to a prison watchdog.

The number of times force had been used against prisoners had also been increased since the previous visit.

Violence is an acute problem, with almost one attack every day among inmates in 2020/21. Prison staff used force 1,295 during the same period, or nearly four times a day.

Shocking footage shows the moment masked prisoners ran amok as they reportedly refused to re-enter their cells during a 23-hour lockdown

The riots are thought to have occurred in Category B HMP Wandsworth’s C-wing

The Category B prison, built in 1851, is one of the largest in western Europe – with over 1,500 inmates in total (file image)

Ex-Wimbledon champion Boris Becker previously spent time in HMP Wandsworth before his release in December after serving just eight months of a two-and-a-half year sentence.

A HM Prison Service spokesperson previously said that concerns were being addressed: ‘HMP Wandsworth is addressing the concerns raised on the report, providing additional training for staff to drive down violence and a new approach to supporting troubled youth offenders.

‘The prison’s population has reduced recently which will be further helped by our £4 billion investment to create 20,000 additional, modern prison places – providing the education, skills and support prisoners need to live crime-free lives on release.’

A Prison Service spokesperson said of the latest video: ‘This TikTok account has been removed.

‘Prisoners involved in disruptive behaviour face serious consequences including extra time behind bars.’

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