Shabana Mahmood responds to reports of 80 prison officers not attending their shift at Wandsworth Prison on the day terror suspect Daniel Khalife escaped

Shabana Mahmood MP, Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the fact that 80 prison officers did not attend their shift at Wandsworth Prison on the day terror suspect Daniel Khalife escaped, said:

“It is astonishing that almost 40% of planned staff did not turn up to their shift on the day of the escape at HMP Wandsworth. This makes it clear that the dire conditions at the prison are having wide-ranging implications, including on staffing levels.

“13 years of Conservative mismanagement has led to staff shortages and unmanageable workloads in the prison and probation service, making the public less safe. Morale amongst staff is in the depths of despair, and the rate of loss of experienced staff is frankly alarming.

“The Government needs to urgently grip the challenges that prison staff are facing to ensure we see an improvement in engagement and retention.