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Wormwood Scrubs prisoner died with seven unprescribed medicines in his system
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has criticised the management of medication at HMP Wormwood Scrubs after an IPP prisoner died of multidrug toxicity.
Prison profile
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
Category BReception / local Public (HMPPS)
Population1,144of 1,212 operational places (94%)
Last inspectedJune 2025Full inspection, unannounced
Latest inspection
At its last full inspection (June 2025; report published September 2025), inspectors found outcomes for prisoners were poor for purposeful activity; not sufficiently good for safety and preparation for release; reasonably good for respect. It held 1,144 people at the time, against an operational capacity of 1,212. An independent review of progress was published in April 2026.
Read our story Read the inspection report
Healthy prison tests: inspectors grade four areas from 1 (poor) to 4 (good).
Inspection history
- Follow-up visit assessing progress against the key concerns from the previous full inspection. Read the report (HM Inspectorate of Prisons, opens external site) ↗
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Preparation for release: not sufficiently good Read our story
- Safety: reasonably good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: not sufficiently good · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
- Safety: not sufficiently good · Respect: reasonably good · Purposeful activity: poor · Rehabilitation and release planning: not sufficiently good Read our story
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News
Police arrest 86 people at Wormwood Scrubs vigil for hunger striker
The Metropolitan Police said protesters entered prison grounds during a vigil for a Palestine Action prisoner on hunger strike at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
News
Ombudsman criticises care at three prisons in reports on deaths in custody
Reports published in December found failings in the treatment of men at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, HMP Northumberland and HMP Winchester before their deaths in 2022.
News
HMP Wormwood Scrubs grades fall amid drugs and a rigid regime, inspectors find
Inspectors found the London prison well organised under an effective governor, but drug use, strict separation of wings and little time out of cell pulled down two of its four grades.