Daniel Abed Khalife, a serving soldier, was being held on remand on charges relating to terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences at HMP Wandsworth in London.
He escaped from the prison on September 6, 2023 and sparked a major manhunt.
Khalife was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers, and brown steel toe cap boots.
He has been described as being of slim build, has short brown hair, and is around 6ft 2ins tall.
Police have stated that Khalife has links to the Kingston area and believe he most likely remains in the London area at this time, although he may have traveled further afield.
We are urgently appealing to trace Daniel Khalife, who escaped from Wandsworth Prison this morning.
He has links to #Kingston – police efforts to trace him are ongoing. He should not be approached.
If you have info on his whereabouts, call 999 quoting CAD 1631/06SEP23 pic.twitter.com/Q7B9uKV9uJ
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 6, 2023
HMP Wandsworth prison
HM Prison Wandsworth is a Category B men’s prison located in Wandsworth, London, England.
The prison was opened in 1851 and was originally named the Surrey House of Correction.
Wandsworth is categorized as a B prison and contains inmates who have committed serious crimes but are not necessarily a threat to the public.
The UK penal system categorizes prisons depending on the type of inmates they can contain.
While Category A hosts prisoners who are a danger to the public or national security, Category B hosts prisoners who are a risk to the public but don’t require maximum security supervision.
Category C prisoners can’t be trusted in an ‘open’ prison but are not considered an escape risk while Category D is an open prison, where inmates can be released on a temporary license to see family or to work.
Wandsworth has lost its status as a reform prison due to allegations of staff corruption, drug abuse, and cannabis openly being smoked and harder drugs found.
The prison has been accused of staff bringing drugs into the prison, and Glyn Travis of the Prison Officers Association said;
“Wandsworth staff had bought into the reform process and worked well with the governor to implement the reforms. … Now, the prison has lost its reform status and once again, staff and prisoners have been left high and dry as…”
The prison offers education, skills, and work programs to inmates.
The Specialist Senior Leadership role supports the prison to become a place of meaningful work with a key focus on leading education, skills and work.
Capacity
According to Prison Phone, the capacity of HMP Wandsworth is 1,877.
However, as of December 2020, the population of the prison was 1,562.
In September 2021, the population was reduced by 300 to 1,364, but the prison remained one of the most overcrowded prisons in England.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the capacity of HMP Wandsworth is 1,877, but the actual population may vary due to various factors such as overcrowding, transfers and releases.
Routine
The daily routine for prisoners at HMP Wandsworth can vary depending on their classification and the activities they are involved in.
Morning
Prisoners are woken up early in the morning, usually around 6:30 AM.
They are given time to wash and dress before breakfast, which is typically served in their cells.
After breakfast, prisoners may attend educational classes or work assignments.
Afternoon
Lunch is served midday, and prisoners may have free time to spend in the exercise yard or participate in recreational activities.
Some prisoners may have work assignments or educational classes in the afternoon.
Evening
Dinner is served in the early evening, and prisoners may have free time to spend in their cells or participate in recreational activities.
Some prisoners may attend evening classes or work assignments.
Night
Prisoners are locked in their cells for the night, usually around 8:30 PM.
They may have access to books or other forms of entertainment to occupy their time.
It’s worth noting that the daily routine at HMP Wandsworth can be disrupted by incidents such as lockdowns, searches or medical emergencies.
Additionally, prisoners may have different schedules depending on their classification, work assignments or educational programs.
Meal schedule
The meal schedule for prisoners at HMP Wandsworth is not explicitly stated.
However, we can infer from the information provided that prisoners are served breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In the past, convicted prisoners employed at ‘hard labour’ for terms exceeding 21 days were allowed the following meals;
- Breakfast: 1 pint of gruel
- Dinner: 1 lb of bread
- Supper: 1 pint of gruel
More recently, a report from The Guardian stated that prisoners are locked up, usually two to a cell, for lunch, dinner and overnight.
It’s worth noting that the prison serves over 4,800 meals a day, so the kitchen staff must be able to provide meals at very short notice.
Unfortunately, we could not find a more detailed meal schedule for prisoners at HMP Wandsworth.
Education and work programs
HMP Wandsworth offers a range of education and work programs to prisoners to help them develop new skills and improve their chances of finding employment upon release.
Education courses
Wandsworth offers a variety of education courses to prisoners, including literacy, numeracy, IT, key skills, firm start, social and life skills, English and current affairs.
These courses are designed to help prisoners improve their basic skills and knowledge, which can be useful for finding employment or pursuing further education.
Work assignments
Prisoners at Wandsworth can participate in work assignments, which can include tasks such as cleaning, cooking, laundry and maintenance.
These assignments can help prisoners develop new skills and work habits, as well as earn a small amount of money.
Gym and sports programs
Wandsworth has two gyms and a sports hall that prisoners can use to stay active and healthy.
Exercise can be an important part of maintaining physical and mental health, and these programs can help prisoners stay motivated and engaged.
Employment coaching
Wandsworth offers employment coaching to prisoners to help them prepare for job interviews, write resumes, and develop job search skills.
This can be especially helpful for prisoners who may have limited work experience or face barriers to employment.
