The IMB at HMP Wandsworth’s annual report for the year 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026

HMP Wandsworth had another year of recovery from its low point in 2023 with many new and promising initiatives but its underlying problems, beyond the control of the management team, remain unchanged.

• On average around one third of staff were unavailable for duty which seriously impacted every aspect of prison life. The Board remained concerned about staff recruitment and HMP Wandsworth’s lack of autonomy in that process. 

• Positives during the year included a further drop in violence levels, the opening of a neurodiversity unit, a new Scandinavian style wing, the Enable project with the aim of improving the culture and behaviour of staff, and at last the opening of the Nightingale health centre.

• The decaying Victorian infrastructure is not fit for purpose and no amount of sticking plaster maintenance can make it so.

IMB Chair, Matthew Andrews said:

“The commitment of a strong senior management team and a core of dedicated staff was commendable and meant the prison had a relatively good year. This was achieved despite the ongoing and chronic staff shortages. However, in a remand prison where almost half the prisoners were foreign nationals and also many men had mental health problems, this ensured that significant management challenges remained.”