Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 November 2005. It was answered by Fiona Mactaggart (Labour) on Monday, 14 November 2005 on behalf of the Home Office.

Prisons

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to tackle the incidence of escapes from Springhill prison.

Answer: Given that there is no physical security to prevent prisoners leaving Springhill, prisoners abscond rather than escape from the open estate. In the last three years the trend for absconds from Springhill has reduced significantly. During 2003–04, 64 prisoners absconded, during 2004–05 42 prisoners absconded and so far this year 28 prisoners have absconded.During the last two years, management at Springhill has taken a number of measures to seek to reduce absconds. For instance, all prisoners are seen on induction by a governor who warns them about the implications of absconding. In addition, a protocol has been introduced with Thames Valley Police to prosecute through the courts all prisoners who abscond. Moreover, significant improvements have been made to the regime with the opening of a job club and two vocational learning centres offering industrial based qualifications in computing and bricklaying. Vocational qualifications have been introduced in catering and horticulture.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 25851; 439 c988W;439 c988W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP 07/373
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Prisoners Prisoner escapes Security Open prisons HMP Spring Hill
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk