A major security investigation has been launched at one of London's most troubled prisons after an inmate brazenly posted a video on TikTok showing a smuggled takeaway meal.
Fast Food Footage Triggers Probe
The incident occurred at HMP Wandsworth, where an unnamed prisoner shared footage of himself tucking into food from the Chicken Cottage chain. The video clearly showed wings and a burger that had been illicitly brought into the prison. Although TikTok swiftly deleted the user's account, the damage was done, prompting prison authorities to initiate a formal investigation.
The probe aims to identify both the prisoner who posted the video and any individuals who assisted in smuggling the contraband meal into the facility. There are serious concerns that a prison officer may have been involved, which would raise further alarming questions about security protocols at the south London jail.
A History of Security Failures
This latest scandal follows a string of high-profile security breaches that have deeply worried local residents and prison staff. Most notably, earlier this month, two prisoners were mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth.
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, was freed in error alongside 35-year-old convicted fraudster William 'Billy' Smith. After a three-day manhunt, Smith voluntarily returned to custody, but the blunder severely damaged public confidence.
A timeline of the mistaken releases reveals systemic failures:
- October 29: Kaddour-Cherif is mistakenly released.
- November 3: Smith is freed in error.
- November 4: The Prison Service informs the Metropolitan Police.
- November 6: Smith hands himself back in.
'Not Safe': A Prison in Crisis
These incidents are symptomatic of a prison in profound crisis. A damning 2024 report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) described Wandsworth as 'the worst' in the English prison system and concluded it was 'not safe'.
The inspection found alarmingly high rates of self-harm, dangerous levels of violence, and nearly half of all prisoners using drugs. Shockingly, 10 self-inflicted deaths had occurred since the previous inspection. The report also highlighted that 80% of inmates were forced to share cells designed for single occupancy.
Despite receiving almost £900,000 in investment following the alleged escape of Daniel Khalife in September 2023, staff displayed an 'inability to account for prisoners during the working day'. The inspectorate noted that the smell of cannabis was 'ubiquitous' and more than half of the men said it was easy to obtain drugs.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: ‘We removed these posts immediately and are investigating. Those who break prison rules can face extra time behind bars.’ The investigation into the smuggled Chicken Cottage meal will now determine if this is an isolated lapse or further evidence of a broken security culture at HMP Wandsworth.
