The government is establishing an Independent Investigation into
the incident that took place on 6 September when Daniel Khalife
escaped from HMP Wandsworth.
The terms of reference of the Independent Investigation are as
follows:
-
Consider whether: the relevant protocols were in
place in HMP Wandsworth; there were the means to apply
them, including whether staffing was sufficient to do so; and
whether and how they were applied at the time of the event.
-
Consider the facts of the case at HMP Wandsworth: the
categorisation of the prisoner; risk assessments and
decisions about employment in the prison; the processes
and/or actions that enabled access to materials that might
have facilitated the escape; the implementation of the
counting protocol; and relevant security measures,
including checks relating to the delivery vehicle.
-
Provide findings and recommendations on the basis of the
above that can be implemented at HMP Wandsworth and, where
relevant, in the wider prison estate that would reduce the
likelihood of any such incident occurring in the future.
Keith Bristow QPM, former Director General of the National Crime
Agency, has been appointed as the Investigator by the Lord
Chancellor. Mr Bristow has had an extensive career in law
enforcement and security matters, including as former Head of
Crime for the Association of Chief Police Officers and former
Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police.
The report on the Investigation, including any recommendations,
will be submitted to the Lord Chancellor and the Permanent
Secretary at the Ministry of Justice.
Public protection is of the utmost importance and the purpose of
the Investigation is to identify shortcomings and ensure lessons
are learned to help prevent incidents of this nature occurring
again in the future.
The Lord Chancellor has asked for the Investigation to produce
findings promptly.
