Prisoners moved out of Wandsworth jail after Daniel Khalife’s escape

About 40 prisoners have been moved out of Wandsworth jail after the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that inmates have been moved “out of an abundance of caution”.

Khalife, 21, was arrested on Saturday after 75 hours on the run.

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The breakout has raised questions on alleged understaffing and overcrowding at HMP Wandsworth, and why Khalife was being held on the much less safe Category B facility when most terror suspects are held in HMP Belmarsh, a Category A jail.

Mr Chalk was not in a position to present a determine when requested repeatedly what number of terror suspects are in Category B prisons slightly than Category A.

He mentioned: “What I can say in respect of Wandsworth… I wanted to ensure out of an abundance of caution that every resource is put into that prison and security is preserved, some prisoners there on remand have been moved.”

He mentioned the transfers occurred this week, including: “Additional resources have gone into Wandsworth, out of an abundance of caution around 40 prisoners have been moved.”

The authorities has launched a number of reviews into Khalife’s escape, together with one wanting on the “placement and categorisation” of all inmates in Wandsworth and one other investigating all folks behind bars presently charged with terror offences.

Mr Chalk admitted the categorisation of Khalife was a “concern” however insisted the method was “not without its complexities”.

The authorities evaluations will run alongside an impartial investigation to determine how the prisoner was in a position to escape.

Khalife 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.

Detectives consider the previous soldier made his getaway by strapping himself to the underside of a supply lorry after leaving the jail kitchen in a cook dinner’s uniform.

Mr Chalk, discussing the preliminary findings of one of many evaluations he has issued, mentioned the investigation has appeared into whether or not protocols have been in place regarding the unloading of meals from a van and looking the supply car.

He mentioned the protocols have been in place however “plainly what we’ve yet to establish is whether those protocols were followed”.

Ex Tory MP: ‘You could not run a fish and chip store method authorities is run’

The authorities is dealing with criticism over cuts to the jail system with critics saying the escape displays a wider mismanagement of the prison justice system.

It has additionally been identified that Mr Chalk is the tenth justice secretary for the reason that Conservatives got here to energy in 2010.

Former Tory MP and prisons minister Rory Stewart mentioned it’s “completely mad” how ministers are moved into roles in authorities with no information in any respect.

He mentioned when he was given his ministerial function: “I hadn’t spoken to a prisoner or a prison officer for 20 years. I’ve never met someone who worked in probation but thanks to the genius of the British ministerial system, I was now responsible for all the prisons, prisoners, ex-offenders, officers, probation officers and sentencing policy in England and Wales.”

He added: “You could not run a fish and chip shop in the way in which the British government is run – it’s insane.”

Mr Stewart has written a ebook, Politics on the Edge, which he mentioned is about “being honest about how bad” the British system is.

He mentioned: “It’s not that politicians are necessarily incompetent or daft it’s that these jobs are mad.

“We want to take a look at the American system the place now we have real professionals as cupboard ministers.”