Independent investigation into HMP Wandsworth escape
Terms of Reference for the independent investigation into the escape by Daniel Khalife from HMP Wandsworth on 6 September 2023.
The government is establishing an Independent Investigation into the incident that took place on 6 September when Daniel Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth.
The terms of reference of the Independent Investigation are as follows:
-
Consider whether: the relevant protocols were in place in HMP Wandsworth; there were the means to apply them, including whether staffing was sufficient to do so; and whether and how they were applied at the time of the event.
-
Consider the facts of the case at HMP Wandsworth: the categorisation of the prisoner; risk assessments and decisions about employment in the prison; the processes and/or actions that enabled access to materials that might have facilitated the escape; the implementation of the counting protocol; and relevant security measures, including checks relating to the delivery vehicle.
-
Provide findings and recommendations on the basis of the above that can be implemented at HMP Wandsworth and, where relevant, in the wider prison estate that would reduce the likelihood of any such incident occurring in the future.
Keith Bristow QPM, former Director General of the National Crime Agency, has been appointed as the Investigator by the Lord Chancellor. Mr Bristow has had an extensive career in law enforcement and security matters, including as former Head of Crime for the Association of Chief Police Officers and former Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police.
The report on the Investigation, including any recommendations, will be submitted to the Lord Chancellor and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice.
Public protection is of the utmost importance and the purpose of the Investigation is to identify shortcomings and ensure lessons are learned to help prevent incidents of this nature occurring again in the future.
The Lord Chancellor has asked for the Investigation to produce findings promptly.