Jail’s blunder lock and key... Prison loss cost £450k
THE loss of a set of prison keys ended up costing the taxpayer nearly £450,000.
Sources said a fight led to it falling into the hands of one of the inmates at Wandsworth in London.
They were quickly found but security rules meant every lock in the jail had to be replaced. Shadow Justice Minister Richard Burgon said: “With prison officers asked to do more and more, and in ever more dangerous conditions, such incidents become much more likely.
“The Government needs to get a grip of our prisons so that it is not wasting valuable funds.”
Category B prison Wandsworth holds 1,428 l ong- term and high-security male prisoners.
It is one of the most overcrowded jails in the country. During the latest inspection, a third of inmates were getting help for substance abuse. Well-known inmates have included Rolf Harris, Charles Bronson and Ronnie Biggs.
The Prison Service said: “Compromised locks are replaced as quickly as possible. Anyone caught breaking prison rules will face tough punishments, including extra time behind bars.”