Written question asked by Lord Garnier (Conservative) on Monday, 3 September 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 September 2007. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 October 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Immigrants: Criminal Records

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes there were from immigration detention centres in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many of those who escaped had criminal records; what categories of crimes they had committed; how many of them remain at large; how many of them who were recaptured had committed crimes while on the run; and what those crimes were.

Answer: [holding answer 10 September 2007]: I am advised by officials that over the last 10 years the Border and Immigration Agency has overseen the removal of 501,600 people. The information readily available shows that 348 individuals have escaped in the detention process.Information on whether the individuals concerned had criminal records and for what categories of crime, the number of individuals remaining at large and whether any crimes have been committed by the individuals concerned is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information