The tragic case of Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi, who took his own life in HMP Wormwood Scrubs, has once again highlighted systemic failures within the prison system.
His wife, who desperately attempted to prevent his suicide, was unable to alert the prison authorities in time due to broken communication systems. The incident has raised serious concerns about prison safety, the importance of functioning emergency systems, and the responsibility of the authorities in preventing future deaths.
A Desperate Attempt to Save a Life
On the night of March 27, 2022, Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi’s wife spoke to her husband and realized he was suicidal. Alarmed by his mental state, she took immediate action to try and alert the prison staff.
However, her attempts to reach the prison via telephone were unsuccessful, as calls were being diverted to an unmanned or obsolete number. The urgency of the situation led her to drive 60 miles from Cambridge to HMP Wormwood Scrubs, hoping to reach someone in person before it was too late.
Upon arriving at the prison, she was faced with another obstacle—the intercom and buzzer system at the main gate, which should have allowed her to communicate with prison staff, was out of order.
For several years, this crucial system had been left non-functional. Desperately, she banged on the main gate, shouting for help, but her cries went unanswered.
The breakdown of these vital communication systems meant that neither she nor the police could get in touch with prison officials that night. Tragically, by the time help could have been reached, Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi had already taken his life in his cell.
Systemic Failures and Accountability
The case of Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi’s suicide has revealed deep-rooted issues within the prison system. Assistant coroner for West London, Richard Furniss, who investigated the matter, pointed out in his report that the failure to maintain a working intercom system constituted a significant lapse in duty. The jury ruled that the absence of a functional emergency communication system was a failure on the part of the prison administration.
The coroner’s report questioned why the intercom system had not been repaired for several years, despite its critical role in allowing external communication during emergencies.
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The only solutions proposed by the prison authorities were either to leave the broken system as it was or remove it entirely, neither of which addressed the fundamental issue. The report emphasized that a properly functioning system could have prevented Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi’s death by allowing his wife to warn the prison staff of his suicidal state.
This tragedy underscores the negligence and inefficiency within the prison administration, particularly at Wormwood Scrubs, which has a history of poor infrastructure and inadequate inmate care.
The failure to provide a reliable emergency communication system suggests a disregard for the safety and well-being of prisoners. It is a matter of grave concern that, despite the jury’s findings, the Ministry of Justice has not yet committed to implementing a robust solution to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Urgent Need for Reform
The death of Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi is not an isolated incident but part of a broader issue of inadequate mental health support and infrastructure failures within UK prisons. The tragic circumstances surrounding his death highlight the urgent need for reform in the prison system to prevent future suicides.
One of the primary concerns raised by this case is the lack of proper communication channels for emergencies. Prisons must ensure that all intercom and telephone systems are regularly maintained and operational at all times.
The failure of these basic systems can mean the difference between life and death, as seen in Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi’s case. The Ministry of Justice must take immediate steps to repair and upgrade these systems to ensure that such failures do not lead to further loss of life.
Additionally, there needs to be greater emphasis on mental health care within the prison system. Many inmates struggle with severe psychological distress, and without adequate support, they are at high risk of suicide.
Prison authorities must implement better suicide prevention measures, including regular mental health check-ups, increased supervision for at-risk prisoners, and easier access to crisis intervention services.
Furthermore, accountability measures must be enforced to ensure that failures like those seen in Wormwood Scrubs are not repeated.
The prison governor, Amy Frost, has been asked to respond to the coroner’s report by April 21, 2025, detailing the actions taken to rectify the issues raised. However, responses and reports alone are not enough—concrete changes must be made to prevent future tragedies.
The Ministry of Justice has stated that it will carefully consider the coroner’s findings and respond in due course. However, this case has already demonstrated the severe consequences of neglecting critical infrastructure and mental health support in prisons.
Immediate action is required to fix the broken systems, improve prisoner welfare, and ensure that external warnings of suicide threats are never ignored again.
The loss of Isaiah Adekunle Olugosi is a devastating reminder of the human cost of institutional failures. His wife did everything within her power to save him, but she was ultimately let down by a system that failed to provide even the most basic means of emergency communication. Unless urgent reforms are implemented, more lives may be lost due to similar preventable failures.
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