Wandsworth Prison is again the centre of controversy after a former detective being held over misconduct charges has been found dead in his cell.
Warren Arter, 54, was a detective inspector for the Met and was being held in custody at the jail while awaiting a date in Woolwich Crown Court next month. He was found dead in his cell on Friday. The prisons service has given no further information but has said it will run an investigation.
The news is just the latest in a series of events at the jail in recent months. In May, the governor of the prison resigned after pressure from a local campaign group shocked at the conditions and culture at the jail.
An independent investigation produced a series of stark warnings, including a shortage of staff, inhumane conditions, a large rat problem, mould, cells with sewage, overcrowding, inadequate clothing, and a lack of medical attention for inmates.
Then, last month, the prison again hit the headlines after a female prison guard was filmed having sex in a cell with an inmate and the video was posted to the internet. She was subsequently fired and appeared in court on 1 July charged with misconduct in public office.
In the case of the detective found dead a few days ago, Arter in jailed after facing charges of abusing his position – as the lead detective in a rape investigation team – to pester the very victims he was supposed to be supporting.
He was accused of having made sexual advances to at least four victims between 2006 and 2012 and gone to swingers’ parties where he took cocaine. Arter was suspended seven years ago but remained on full pay before finally being sacked in 2023 after a misconduct tribunal.
Phone pics used as evidence
The tribunal heard how Arters has continued to buy illegal drugs even after he was suspended and offered to supply drugs to others. Pictures on his phone showing him with what prosecutors said with lines of cocaine, as well as various drug paraphernalia were used as evidence.
A BBC enquiry into how Scotland Yard handled Arter’s case concluded that the investigation had been “botched” with a failure to follow best practice and his phone being wiped remotely after he was arrested.
Given the nature of his job and the reasons he was in the jail, combined with high profile reporting on his case, the fact that he was found dead in his cell has raised suspicions of foul play.
The Ministry of Defence said in a statement: “Warren Arter died at HMP Wandsworth on Friday 12th July. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
