A woman has been arrested after the emergence of a social media video apparently showing a prison officer having sex with an inmate in a cell.
The Metropolitan police said it began investigating on Friday after being made “aware of a video allegedly filmed inside HMP Wandsworth”, adding that a woman had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office the same day and remained in custody.
It is not known when the footage, which showed an officer initially in full uniform, was filmed.
The arrest comes less than two months after the prisons watchdog wrote to the justice secretary, Alex Chalk, with an urgent notification for improvement at the jail.
Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, said the findings of a recent inspection were “deeply concerning”, with “chaotic” wings and staff being unable to “accurately account for their prisoners during the working day”. The prison’s governor, Katie Price, resigned during the inspection.
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “A police investigation was launched on 28 June after officers were made aware of a video allegedly filmed inside HMP Wandsworth.
“A woman was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 28 June. She has been taken into police custody.
“Inquiries continue. We remain in close contact with the Ministry of Justice.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Staff corruption is not tolerated and the former prison officer allegedly featured in this video has been reported to the police.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further while they investigate.”
Taylor wrote to Chalk in May warning of the “despondency” he witnessed at the category B Victorian jail.
He added: “For this troubled prison to begin to recover, Wandsworth needs permanent experienced leaders at all levels who are invested in its long-term future to improve security, safety and guide their less-experienced colleagues.”
