HMP Woodhill: Prison staff made insufficient checks on inmate found dead

Anil Gill murdered his wife Ranjit Gill in 2021 in what Judge Mark Bishop described as a "prolonged and ferocious attack"

Prison staff failed to properly check on a prisoner the morning he was found dead, the prisons ombudsman has ruled.

Anil Gill was serving a life sentence at HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes, for killing his wife in an alcohol and cocaine fuelled frenzy in 2021.

He was found dead on 31 July, 2022, and the ombudsman said staff did not do a visual check despite his cell's observation panel being blocked.

The Prison Service said it had implemented changes.

The observation panel in Gill's cell was blocked preventing staff members making a visual check

During both morning roll check, and the cell unlocking process, staff did not see Gill because his cell panel was blocked and the door would not open.

This was not challenged and no visual check was completed, against guidance, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) found.

Thirty minutes later, a staff member returned with a colleague and managed to remove the blockage on the panel to see inside the cell.

Child 'no contact' ruling

The ombudsman said: "There is clearly learning for staff about the importance for safety and security of visually checking prisoners during these daily procedures.

"The governor has already taken steps to prevent future occurrence and she will want to continue to monitor staff compliance and understanding."

Two weeks before his death, the 48-year-old had been told he could no longer have contact with one of his children at a family court hearing.

Gill attended the hearing via video link but no prison staff were present.

The ombudsman said it was "concerned that there was no system in place at Woodhill for notifying staff of prisoners' attendance at family court hearings".

It said staff who supported Gill were "unaware that his risk of suicide and self-harm might increase".

The ombudsman said similar issues with prison staff not doing visual checks of blocked panels were found in the death of another prisoner six weeks before Mr Gill's death

A new process has since been introduced at HMP Woodhill to notify the prison of family court hearings and organise follow-up conversations.

However, the ombudsman said the entire prison service could do more to alert "to the specific risks of family court hearings".

The ombudsman also found that pharmacy staff noticed Gill had not collected anti-depressant medication for three weeks and placed him on a waiting list for a medication review.

It was noted, however, that Gill never disclosed any feelings of wanting to harm himself.

Several recommendations were made, which included ensuring staff perform visual checks on all prisoners during the unlock and roll check processes, for welfare and security reasons.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We have accepted and implemented all of the Ombudsman's recommendations."