Dr. Chris Wood interviewed by international news channel France24
Park Square BarristersDr. Chris Wood was interviewed on the recent escape of Daniel Khalife from Wandsworth Prison. Khalife faces allegations of terrorism offences and breaching the Official Secrets Act by supplying information to the Iranian Authorities. Whilst remanded at HMP Wandsworth, a Category B prison, Khalife worked in the prison kitchen, he escaped by anchoring himself under a food delivery truck that had been delivering food supplies to the prison.
Prior to going on air breaking news confirmed that a confirmed siting of Khalife had been confirmed. Dr. Chris Wood remarked that whilst such information is helpful to build up a timeline for police and security services, the fact that his escape was not made known to the public sooner means such information is coming through late which can in turn mean the picture being built is out of time, but still gives some insight into where he may be headed. Police and Security Service’s will be examining all communication he has had whilst in prison, including phone calls and letters etc, and anyone with an association to him will be subject to some scrutiny.
Regarding his placement in a Category B prison, Dr. Chris Wood explained that should never have happened. Given the offences Khalife is accused of he should have been placed into a Category A prison, such as Belmarsh Prison or Frankland Prison. The fact that he had been placed into a Category B prison and given kitchen duties as a job – a highly regarded role within the prison system -demonstrates the poor level of risk assessment undertaken or applied.
It was remarked by the broadcaster that the escape was being used politically, so when asked who was to blame for the escape Dr. Chris Wood explained that the “buck has to stop with the Government. They have cut public services to the bone since 2010, this is across all public sectors – the prison, criminal justice, court services, the police, the NHS and others.” He added “[the Government] expect people to run on a shoestring budget. They expect people to do more with less and keep us safe from the worst in our society without taking account of the harm those individuals, prison officers, face on a daily basis.” He concluded, “Yes, it’s the government’s fault and so why wouldn’t Labour make a political point out of it.”
Dr. Chris Wood has a busy criminal practice, in both prosecution and defence, he is regularly instructed in many serious and complex cases, and is a specialist in UK counter-terrorism matters. His PhD thesis assesses the UK’s response to countering terrorism, and between 2014 – 2018 he was involved in international research to tackle serious crime, serious organised crime and terrorism.