While the British prison system does have its flaws, it's crucial to understand this escape from HMP Wandsworth in the context of Khalife's military training. He wasn't a usual prisoner, but rather a former Signals soldier charged as a potential spy for Iran.
Despite his military training, Khalife's escape was no exception. Wandsworth is a poorly-managed prison that has long been understaffed and underfunded — it is a place where miscounts and confusion are evidently commonplace. It's inconceivable that a terrorism suspect was allowed to work in the kitchen, enabling him to escape underneath a departing vehicle.
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