Residents living near HMP Wandsworth have reported seeing drones attempting to smuggle contraband into the prison and hearing inmates screaming abuse. Despite concerns about staffing levels, many say they feel safe living in the area.
Maria, a 44-year-old resident, said she had noticed an increase in drone activity and “dodgy people” since moving there in 2014. “We’ve had some people looking for drones stuck in trees,” she said. “There is a lot of noise from the prison… which does make you feel less safe for my kids because they can hear them screaming.”
The comments come as the prison faces scrutiny after former inmate Daniel Khalife was charged with escaping from custody. An inmate was also stabbed at the prison on Sunday in an incident believed to be between prisoners; no arrests have been made.
A 2022 report from Wandsworth’s Independent Monitoring Board found a “staffing crisis”, “wholly inadequate physical conditions”, and “incidents of violence at alarming levels”. Former prison officers living nearby described the area as quiet and safe, saying escaped inmates would not linger.
A Prison Service spokesperson said they had invested £100 million to clamp down on contraband, were recruiting thousands more officers, and had improved conditions at Wandsworth, including new windows and a healthcare unit.
