EIGHTY prison officers failed to show up for work at Wandsworth prison on the day that Daniel Khalife escaped, it emerged yesterday.
Nearly 40 per cent of employees skipped their scheduled shifts, confirming MPs’ fears about under-staffing at the jail.
Daniel Khalife escaped Wandsworth Jail on a day when 80 staff expected on shift were absent[/caption]
However Justice Minister Damian Hinds insisted the initial probe into the terror suspect’s disappearance found staff levels were not a factor.
He confirmed there were 1,594 inmates in the South West London prison last Monday.
Some 125 officers were on duty — with a 61 per cent attendance rate.
The revelation came in response to a Parliamentary question from local MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.
She said: “I’ve had concerns for many months about staffing levels at Wandsworth prison.”
Former soldier Khalife, 21, allegedly escaped under a lorry.
He was arrested in West London on Saturday.
A No10 spokesman said: “It’s important not to take a snapshot of a single day and draw wider assumptions.”
But he added: “We do recognise the need to hire more prison staff.”
The Prison Service said “an appropriate number of staff” were on duty that day.
Meanwhile ex-National Crime Agency boss Keith Bristow has been appointed to lead a full investigation into the escape.
September 16, 2023 at 01:41AM
from The Sun