HMP Wandsworth labelled ‘inhumane’ after being found to be most overcrowded prison in UK
HMP Wandsworth has been identified as the most overcrowded prison in the UK, holding 62% more inmates than its design capacity. The prison, which houses 1,444 prisoners against a capacity of 894, has faced criticism for inhumane conditions and a series of high-profile incidents. Overcrowding has led to multiple prisoners being housed in cells meant for one or two, contributing to systemic issues.
- ▪HMP Wandsworth holds 62% more prisoners than its design capacity of 894, with 1,444 inmates as of the latest figures.
- ▪The prison has been involved in several high-profile incidents, including the escape of spy Daniel Khalife in 2023 and the mistaken release of an inmate.
- ▪Category B prisons like Wandsworth are often the most overcrowded, with a constantly churning population, according to the Howard League for Penal Reform.
- ▪Wandsworth was placed in special measures in 2024, one of 10 UK prisons to receive an urgent improvement notice since 2022.
- ▪In 2025, a prison officer was jailed for 15 months for having sex with an inmate, with footage of the incident spreading on social media.
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NewsUKHome NewsHMP Wandsworth labelled ‘inhumane’ after being found to be most overcrowded prison in UKThe chaos at the south-west London prison has been laid bare through a series of high-profile incidents in recent yearsGeorge Lithgow & Ian JonesTuesday 28 April 2026 19:26 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2966683","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hmp-wandsworth-prison-overcrowding-uk-b2966683.html","title":"‘Inhumane’ HMP Wandsworth is the most overcrowded prison in UK"}}open image in…
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