'Jail escape yet another crisis caused by Tory cuts to our prison service'

09 September 2023 , 20:05

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Daniel Abed Khalife managed to escape from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday (Image: AP)

It is a relief to us all that suspected terrorist Daniel Khalife is back behind bars, where he belongs.

The ex-soldier’s innocence or guilt on the charges he faces can now be determined by a court in November, as was originally planned. And the vigilance of the public and work of the police in his recapture has been rightly praised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But that cannot be the end of the matter. Khalife’s escape threw into sharp focus what is wrong with HMP Wandsworth in South West London and, by extension, the whole of Britain’s prison estate.

Chronic understaffing by the Tories means that our prisons are at risk of failing in their primary purpose of keeping prisoners secure and the public safe. Chief inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor says conditions at Wandsworth are so bad that in an ideal world it would be shut. The Prison Officers Association says having too few staff to handle too many prisoners enabled Khalife to slip away.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has ordered a review to identify the lapses which allowed Khalife to go on the run for four days. But that is not enough. Urgent security checks must now be made at all prisons. And any necessary measures must be taken to thwart other prisoners who may be planning audacious bids for freedom.

A duty to help

Our hearts go out to the people of the beautiful city of Marrakech, many of whom lost loved ones and had homes destroyed by Friday night’s devastating earthquake. Morocco has had to rebuild following quakes before and we know that its people will have the courage and fortitude required to do so again. But it is only right that Britain and other nations do their bit to help.

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Both PM Rishi Sunak and US president Joe Biden have offered aid, as they should. Because when an awful natural disaster strikes, it is the duty of the whole world to do what it can to piece a shattered country back together.

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