An inmate at HMP Wandsworth has sparked a new investigation after posting a video on TikTok of a smuggled Chicken Cottage takeaway. The unnamed prisoner shared footage of his meal, including wings and a burger, on the social media platform.
TikTok swiftly deleted the user's account, but the Prison Service has launched an investigation to identify the inmate and those who helped bring the food into the jail. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'We removed these posts immediately and are investigating. Those who break prison rules can face extra time behind bars.'
The incident is the latest in a series of security breaches at the south London prison. Earlier this month, two prisoners, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif and William 'Billy' Smith, were mistakenly released and went on the run. Smith turned himself in after a three-day manhunt.
HMP Wandsworth was described as 'the worst' in the English prison system in a scathing 2024 report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. The inspection found alarmingly high rates of self-harm, dangerous violence levels, and nearly 50% of inmates taking drugs. The report concluded the prison was 'not safe', noting ten self-inflicted deaths since the last inspection.
Staff at the prison displayed an 'inability to account for inmates during the working day', despite nearly £900,000 of investment following Daniel Khalife's alleged escape in September 2023. The report also found 80% of men were sharing cells designed for one person, and more than half said it was easy to obtain drugs.
