An inquest jury has found that government terrorism controls had a “substantial impact” on the mental state of a Wandsworth prisoner. Akhtar Uddin, a 35-year-old builder from London, was found dead at the prison on Christmas Day 2021.
The jury found that the measures drove him to the act that caused his death. It could not, however, conclude that he had meant to die.
Mr Uddin was in prison for breaching a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIM) notice. He had received his sentence the year before his death.
He had earlier served a sentence for racially or religiously aggravated harassment. The Government imposed the TPIM even though he faced no criminal charges for any terrorist act. He breached it by taking more money out of his bank than the notice allowed. A breach can lead to a prison sentence for terrorism.
The inquest was the first to examine the effect of TPIMs. Jurors heard that Mr Uddin believed the order stemmed from reckless remarks he had made while under the influence of drugs. He always maintained that he was not a terrorist.
Suspects do not learn the full reasons for a notice, because these rest on intelligence from MI5.
The TPIM first took effect in January 2020, when Mr Uddin left prison. He was arrested at the prison gates in front of his sister, who had come to meet him. He then had to move to the West Midlands against his will.
The inquest heard that he feared the Government would impose the TPIM again when he left prison early in 2022. He also feared that his drug use would lead him to breach it once more.
The coroner said he would send a report to the Government because of concern about a risk to others under the measures.
The jury also criticised HMP Wandsworth. It found consistent evidence that prison services did not know about the TPIM restrictions or their likely effect on Mr Uddin. As a result, it said, the prison failed to give him support suited to his particular needs and situation.
A senior governor at the prison accepted in evidence that staff’s lack of knowledge about TPIMs had led to “unintentionally cruel” treatment of Mr Uddin.
HMP Wandsworth is a category B reception prison for men in London. At a full inspection in August 2024, inspectors rated it poor for safety, respect and purposeful activity. They judged preparation for release not sufficiently good.
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