From 46m agoKey events23m agoForty per cent of staff were absent from Wandsworth prison on day Daniel Khalife escaped, Home Office says46m agoSunak says law banning American XL bully dogs will be in force by end of year1h agoSunak says government will ban American XL bully dogs following spate of attacks1h agoTrain drivers announce strikes timed to disrupt Tory party conference2h agoCooper suggests Labour returns agreement with EU might involve more children with relatives in UK being admitted2h agoLabour criticises ‘zombie government’ for delay to renters (reform) bill3h agoTata Steel poised for £500m subsidy to secure future of Port Talbot site3h agoDrakeford says Wales’ default 20mph speed limit in residential areas will save lives3h agoMinister says Sunak will meet pledge to stop the boats ‘in fullness of time’ as Labour says it would end migrant hotel useFilters BETAKey events (9)Rishi Sunak (3)Yvette Cooper (3)23m ago07.24 EDTForty per cent of staff were absent from Wandsworth prison on day Daniel Khalife escaped, Home Office saysRowena Mason
More than 80 prison officers did not to turn up for their shifts at Wandsworth prison on the day of the alleged prison escape of Daniel Khalife, leaving just 60% of posts filled, it has emerged.
The government insisted staffing was not a factor in Khalife’s breakout from HMP Wandsworth on 6 September, with Damian Hinds, a justice minister, saying it was above safe levels that day.
However, Hinds said 80 prison officers “did not attend their expected shift at the prison that day” while 125 were on duty, equating to 61% attendance.
In a response to a Commons written question, Hinds said:
On 6 September 2023, 1,594 prisoners were held at HMP Wandsworth. 125 Band 3 Prison Officers at the prison attended their shift on that day. This equates to 61 per cent of all staff due to attend. 80 officers did not attend their expected shift at the prison on that day.
Overall staffing levels were above the minimum staffing level required by the prison’s Regime Management Plan to deliver a safe and decent regime.
All staff in both the kitchen and the gatehouse were on duty on 06 September. An initial investigation into Daniel Khalife’s escape did not find the staffing level to be a contributing factor.
The question was tabled by Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting, in south London, which includes HMP Wandsworth. She said:
I’ve had concerns for many months about staffing levels at Wandsworth prison. Today, it’s revealed that on the day Daniel Khalife escaped – they were 80 prison officers short. This sits with the government. Their under-resourcing of the prison service has caused this.
Updated at 07.41 EDT46m ago07.01 EDTSunak says law banning American XL bully dogs will be in force by end of year
Here is the full text of what Rishi Sunak said in his video statement about banning American XL bully dogs. (See 11.50am.)
The American XL bully dog is a danger to our communities,…
2023-09-15 06:39:21
Original from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2023/sep/15/conservatives-labour-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-uk-politics-latest-news” target=”_blank” style=”color:blue” rel=”noopener”>www.theguardian.com
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