“That bullying within HMP Wandsworth is not appropriately managed due to inadequate…”

The coroner’s concerns

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— 1. That bullying within HMP Wandsworth is not appropriately managed due to inadequate systems being in place, too few staff on duty, poor communication between teams, inadequate staff training, poor recognition of risk and the mixing of vulnerable prisoners with potential bullies. 2. The organisation of the vulnerable prisoners’ unit is such that those truly vulnerable are mixed with those prisoners placed there for reasons as drug debt from other wings, who are not vulnerable in other ways and then abuse prisoners such as Mr Richards. 3. That prisoners from other wings pass through the VP unit on a regular basis and thus increase the chance of bullying to the vulnerable prisoners. 4. That the system for cell allocation is inappropriate such that a young and immature and vulnerable man such as Mr Richards was sharing a cell with a prisoner with convictions for predatory sexual behaviour with boys. 5. That training of medical staff in relation to Resuscitation is inadequate. 6. That the system for ensuring restocking of medical supplies such as oxygen after they have been used needs to be reviewed. 7. That the communications interface between the medical staff, those supplying psychological support and psychiatric services needs to be improved, as does the communication of these staff with prison officers, such that risks of self harm and bullying are appropriately communicated and acted upon. 8. That there is a risk assessment undertaken of prisoners in the approach to sentencing so that any increase in risk may be appropriately managed. 9. That security and intelligence systems are upgraded and overhauled such that risks of bullying and crime within the prison that feed into self-harm and suicide by prisoners are reduced and contained appropriately. 10. That the personal officer system be re-established, so that prisoners have a named officer who knows them well. Risks should then be communicated and managed more appropriately within HMP Wandsworth, such that self-harm and suicide of prisoners is reduced. ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe you [AND/OR your organisation] have the power to take such action. It is for each addressee to respond to matters relevant to them.

An extract. Read the full report, including the circumstances of the death, on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website.

Source

judiciary.uk, Prevention of Future Deaths reports, 2017-0406

Added to Minute Book

8 Oct 2026

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, judiciary.uk. Open Government Licence v3.0