A prisoner with a known suicide risk died just hours after arriving at HMP Wandsworth, as staff failed to check critical records that could have saved his life, a watchdog has found.
Missed Opportunities
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) report highlighted that Waleed Ali, 54, was found unresponsive in his cell on October 20, 2022. He had been arrested after stabbing his ex-partner and himself, repeatedly expressing a desire to die. Police updated his digital escort record to indicate he needed constant supervision due to suicide risk, but this was never checked by escort staff or prison officers.
Adrian Usher, the ombudsman, stated: "In this case, I find that Mr Ali's death was absolutely foreseeable and therefore possibly preventable. The failures to identify his risk make for depressing reading."
Journey to Prison
Serco escort officers transported Mr Ali from Westminster Magistrates' Court to HMP Wandsworth on October 22. CCTV footage showed him crying, removing clothes, and lying on the floor. During the journey, an officer was heard saying, "Oh bloody hell, really? I don't want to listen to that" when he cried, and a prisoner told him to "shut the f*** up," with the officer laughing.
A nurse from the court's liaison team had emailed the prison's mental health team about Mr Ali's risk, but the message was not read until October 25, after his death.
Arrival at Wandsworth
Upon arrival, Mr Ali was screened by a nurse, but his medical records could not be located due to an incorrect date of birth on his warrant. The nurse referred him to mental health due to unusual behavior. No one checked his escort record or identified his suicide risk.
Within an hour of being placed in a cell with another prisoner, Mr Ali pressed his emergency bell five times and asked to be moved. In one instance, it took 29 minutes for an officer to respond. The ombudsman noted a "lack of empathy and professional curiosity" from staff.
Death and Aftermath
At 9:06 PM, Mr Ali's cellmate pressed the emergency bell after finding him unresponsive. An officer arrived at 9:12 PM, and despite resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead at 9:59 PM. An inquest concluded he intended to take his own life, with systemic failures in risk assessment and communication.
Mr Usher added: "Mr Ali died within a few hours of arriving at Wandsworth. He was a man presenting with a clear risk of suicide... The police identified Mr Ali as at risk of suicide following his arrest two days earlier. Although this information was recorded, no one checked it."
Broader Failures at Wandsworth
This incident follows other suicides at the prison, including Sebastião Lucas in 2021 and Rajwinder Singh in 2023. A 2024 inspection found failings in almost all aspects of the prison's operation, leading to an urgent notification and a £100 million cash boost. Mr Ali was the ninth suicide at HMP Wandsworth since October 2019, with nine more confirmed after his death.
A Prisons Service spokesperson said: "We have already acted on the PPO's recommendations by updating suicide and self-harm prevention procedures." A Serco spokesperson added: "Our thoughts remain with Mr Ali's family... We've reviewed and acted on the inquest findings."
