UPDATED A new inspection report has found that Wandsworth Prison remains in a state of serious dysfunction, with “limited and fragile” progress made since its last damning inspection. While some improvements have been introduced under new leadership, core issues around safety, overcrowding, staffing, and prisoner welfare persist—raising concerns about whether real reform is taking hold.
The independent review of progress, published this week by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, followed up on 10 key concerns raised during the prison’s August 2024 inspection. That earlier report described the prison as “dangerous and chaotic” with unsafe conditions and a failure of leadership at every level.
This latest review, conducted between 31 March and 2 April 2025, offers a mixed verdict. Inspectors found “good progress” in only two areas: reducing violence and improving resettlement support for remand prisoners. But in half the areas examined, including drug misuse, living conditions, time out of cell, staff-prisoner relationships, and prisoner redress systems, progress was judged “insufficient”.
Leadership and culture: new energy, old obstacles
A new governor, appointed following last year’s inspection, was credited with bringing “energy and focus” to the prison. The review notes some strengthening of senior leadership and greater visibility from some managers, alongside investments in staff training and external support. Yet many staff remain inexperienced, and middle managers were still often absent from the wings.
The Inspectorate warned that despite more coherent leadership, “outcomes across many areas were still concerning” and the prison remains vulnerable to systemic failure.
Among the most troubling aspects of the report is the confirmation that four more prisoners have died in custody since the 2024 inspection—two of them self-inflicted. This brings the total to 12 self-inflicted deaths at Wandsworth since 2021, as previously reported in our investigation into deaths behind bars.
Although the rate of self-harm has dropped by 28%, inspectors noted that key weaknesses identified in earlier inquests and ombudsman reports remain unresolved. Care plans for vulnerable prisoners were still too sparse, ACCT (suicide monitoring) reviews were held in inappropriate spaces without privacy, and emergency response procedures remained inconsistent.
“There had been some improvement in response times to emergency call bells,” the report stated, “but there were still frequent delays.”
Drugs and overcrowding still widespread
Drug misuse remains a serious problem. Although random drug testing is now being conducted regularly, 37% of prisoners tested positive—down slightly from 44% last year but still far above the national average. Drones continue to be a primary delivery method, and the prison’s physical layout—especially outdated cell windows—makes it especially vulnerable. A five-year window replacement programme has only just begun.
Living conditions also remain poor. While communal areas have improved and rats have been reduced, many overcrowded cells are still in disrepair, and access to heating, hot water, and clean showers is unreliable. Graffiti remains widespread, and inspectors noted that basic cleanliness is not consistently maintained.
Wandsworth’s capacity has been reduced by 150 places, with a further reduction planned, but the jail remains one of the most overcrowded in the country.
Time out of cell and education: minimal progress
Most prisoners at Wandsworth still spend over 22 hours a day locked in their cells, especially those not engaged in work or education. Although a new regime has been introduced and time out of cell has improved on some units—particularly the Trinity wing—inspectors said the overall picture remained bleak.
The education and skills programme, overseen by Ofsted, was found to be failing on multiple fronts. Four out of five assessed themes were marked as having made “insufficient progress”. Many education sessions are cancelled due to staff shortages. Attendance remains poor, and while a revised prisoner pay structure has removed disincentives for joining classes, many still choose not to attend.
A key tool for rehabilitation—personal learning plans (PLPs)—remains ineffective. Inspectors could not find completed PLPs for any prisoners in their random sample. Those that do exist were often missing vital information about career goals or past skills, and were not used to guide placement decisions.
Despite efforts to improve the applications and complaints process, prisoners continue to report long delays and poor communication. Inspectors found that while complaint systems had been overhauled, the quality of responses was still inconsistent, and in some cases dismissive. One prisoner waited 57 days for a reply to a formal complaint.
Meanwhile, consultation with prisoners has improved slightly through the use of monthly prisoner councils and the prison’s in-house “Radio Wanno”, which broadcasts translated announcements and updates. But trust in the system remains low.
Governor absence sparks criticism
The release of the report follows a recent public meeting organised by the Wandsworth Prison Improvement Campaign (WPIC), where families of prisoners who had died at Wandsworth called for greater accountability. The governor did not attend the meeting, prompting criticism from attendees who viewed his absence as symbolic of a wider culture of disengagement.
Campaigners later held a private meeting with the governor, but remained skeptical that sufficient progress was being made. Critics have accused the prison of “managing perception” rather than enacting real reform.
We spoke to WPIC coordinator Deborah Lamb, who told us: “WPIC welcomes the improvements made at Wandsworth Prison under the leadership of the new Governor, Andy Davy. We have seen for ourselves that the prison is cleaner, with less rubbish and fewer rats.
“The conditions in the Trinity wings are now decent and violence and drug use is reducing. However, continuing problems of absenteeism of prison staff mean that most inmates are lucky to get two hours a day out of their cells and to have any education or work opportunities.”
She continued:
“While money has been set aside for vital improvements to boilers, showers and windows, these works will still take at least 5 years to finish which is far too long.
We also don’t understand why the prison is so poor at tackling issues such as missing clothing, dealing with basic requests and resolving prisoners’ complaints. It was shocking to read in the Inspector’s report that a major cause of self-harm is frustration about the lack of time out of cells and access to working phones to maintain contact with families.
In our view, conditions are still not sufficiently decent and humane for most of the men in Wandsworth Prison.”
Conclusion: progress, but nowhere near enough
While inspectors acknowledged areas of improvement—particularly in violence reduction and remand support—the overall message of the report is one of caution. The changes now underway have not yet altered the daily experience of most prisoners.
Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor concluded: “There had been a great deal of positive activity since the inspection, resulting in some early progress. However, improvements remained limited and fragile.”
With another summer approaching and pressure continuing to mount over prison conditions across the country, Wandsworth remains a critical test case for whether meaningful reform is possible within the current system.
