Video Of UK Prison Officer Hawk Tuah In Inmate’s Cell Goes Viral

The Metropolitan Police are investigating a viral video that shows UK prison officer Hawk Tuah in an inmate’s cell at Wandsworth Prison. The video has raised concerns about security and conduct in the prison.

A Prison Service spokesperson said, “Staff corruption is not tolerated, and the former prison officer in this video has been reported to the police. It would be inappropriate to comment further while they investigate.”

The video shows Tuah in uniform with the inmate, while another inmate films the incident on a mobile phone. The filming inmate can be heard saying, “Guys, we’ve made history, this is what I’m telling you,” and “this is how we roll in Wandsworth.”

The Ministry of Justice has asked the police to investigate. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed, “We have been made aware of a video filmed inside HMP Wandsworth. A police investigation is underway. At this early stage, there have been no arrests. We are in close contact with the Ministry of Justice.”

This incident comes two months after a watchdog called for Wandsworth Prison to be put into emergency measures. The prison has problems with security, overcrowding, drugs, violence, and self-harm. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor described the situation as “deeply concerning.”

Taylor’s report highlighted ongoing struggles at the prison. Wandsworth was “still reeling” from a high-profile escape last year. Daniel Khalife, accused of fleeing custody over spy charges, allegedly strapped himself under a food delivery lorry and was later arrested. Khalife denies all charges and is due to stand trial in October.

The video has intensified scrutiny on the prison. Vanessa Frake, former head of security at Wormwood Scrubs, called the footage “shocking” and criticized the state of the prison service.

The video begins with Tuah in the cell, while her prison-issued radio crackles with messages. The camera then switches to selfie mode as the smoking inmate films the incident, making comments about life inside the prison.

This incident has raised serious questions about security and staff conduct within Wandsworth Prison. Ian Acheson, a former prison governor, said, “If this footage is real, the problems go far beyond overcrowding. The state is no longer in charge here.”

Wandsworth Prison has been under scrutiny for its conditions and management. A recent inspection found that 80% of prisoners were sharing cells designed for one person. There were also high levels of drug use and violence. The escape of Daniel Khalife further highlighted the prison’s security failings.

Ministry of Justice figures reveal that over 80 prison staff have been sacked or reprimanded since 2013 for having relationships with inmates. HMP Berwyn in North Wales had the worst record, with 18 female staff found to have had relationships with inmates since the prison opened in 2017.

Wandsworth Prison was put into special measures following a damning report by Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor. During an unannounced visit, he found eighty percent of prisoners sharing cells designed for one person, forty-four percent testing positive for drugs, and some going without showers for five days.

Despite the alleged escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife last year, Taylor said security remained a “serious concern,” with staff on the “chaotic” wings frequently unable to accurately account for the whereabouts of their prisoners. Built more than 170 years ago, Wandsworth is one of the oldest and most famous prisons in the country. It has had its fair share of high-profile inmates, from Oscar Wilde to, more recently, tennis star turned bankrupt Boris Becker.

In his warning to ministers calling for the category B jail to be placed in emergency measures, Taylor described an atmosphere among prisoners “characterized by a degree of despondency that I have not come across in my time as Chief Inspector.”

He said staff are hampered by a lack of experience, poor management, and a “poor or non-existent relationship” with prisoners. Many are suffering from high levels of “burn-out,” with a third unavailable for work each day.

Mobile phones are illegal inside prisons, but they can be smuggled in by visitors or corrupt staff. Violence is an acute problem inside the jail, with more than ten assaults on staff every week. The population, which numbered 1,364 two years ago, had risen this month to 1,513.

“Wanno,” as HMP Wandsworth is known by its inmates, was where former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker spent his first few weeks after being jailed for hiding £2.5 million of assets and loans in a bankruptcy fraud case. Becker, who was later moved to Huntercombe prison in Oxfordshire, said being a famous tennis player meant nothing in a place where he was surrounded by “murderers, drug dealers, rapists, people smugglers, and dangerous criminals.”

As the investigation continues, there are growing calls for substantial reforms to address the widespread issues plaguing Wandsworth Prison and to ensure the safety and integrity of both staff and inmates.