Vanessa Frake

Former Head of Security and Operations at Wormwood Scrubs

Formerly Head of Security and Operations at HMP Wormwood Scrubs .Vanessa started her career at HMP Holloway as an Officer in 1986. She transferred to HMP Wormwood Scrubs in 2002, Vanessa was awarded an MBE for her work for the prison service in 2012 and retired in 2013 from the prison service after 27 years.

From dealing with celebrity and notorious criminals, busting drug rings, to recruiting informers and subject to violent attacks, her hard-hitting but often humorous memoir reveals all about life behind bars with honesty and in unflinching detail. Since writing the book, Vanessa has worked with CBS Reality, with Donal MacIntyre on Released to Kill, ITV Britain’s most Notorious Prisons and is a regular expert on GB News, Good Morning Britain and Talk TV.

She is currently working with LadBible on a new podcast to add to her several done over the last 18 months including a live podcast with Andy Rowe and Denny Denholm. Vanessa has also become a much sought after dinner speaker. Although these days she doesn’t have time to do so much baking it is still a passion of hers along with caring for her four dogs and three cats!