Around 40 inmates of HMP Wandsworth have been moved out of the Category B jail after terror suspect Daniel Khalife’s escape, the Justice Secretary has mentioned.
Alex Chalk mentioned on Sunday that the preliminary findings of his investigation into the ageing London jail have discovered that the related procedures and safety workers had been in place.
But he mentioned dozens of people on remand have been moved to completely different websites “out of an abundance of caution” amid questions over why a former soldier accused of a terror offence was not within the highest safety jail.
Mr Chalk advised Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “Out of an abundance of caution, some prisoners there – some of those on remand – have been moved (this week).
“Additional resources have, of course, gone into Wandsworth, so there’s additional governor support, a former governor with particular expertise in security.
“But also, out of an abundance of caution, around 40 prisoners have been moved just while we get to the bottom of what took place in Wandsworth. That is a sensible, precautionary measure.”
Khalife, 21, stays in police custody after he was dramatically arrested on Saturday within the north-west London suburb of Northolt after 4 days on the run.
Mr Chalk, discussing the preliminary findings of a assessment he issued, mentioned the investigation has appeared into whether or not protocols had been in place regarding the unloading of meals from a van and looking out the supply automobile.
“Those protocols were in place, point one,” he mentioned. “And point two, the relevant security staff were also in place.
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“Plainly what we’ve yet to establish is whether those protocols were followed.”
He mentioned he’ll set out “next week” the phrases of reference of the separate impartial investigation to make sure that the conclusions are “rock solid”.