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Open Prisons: Prisoner Escapes

Answer

The following table shows the number of prisoners who have absconded from open prisons between April 2003 and March 2008 broken down by (a) prison and (b) year. The number of absconds last year was the lowest level since centralised recording began in 1995 and levels have continued to fall in the current year. Escapes too have been falling for over a decade with the current low levels having been sustained for some years now. This is despite considerable increases in population over the same period. It is my intention to continue this downward trend.

Establishment name	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Askham Grange	31	12	14	7	11
East Sutton Park	1	2	4	2	0
Ford	142	110	96	62	47
Hewell Grange	31	24	24	13	15
Hollesley Bay	36	32	16	21	19
Kirkham	213	120	74	54	65
Leyhill	114	102	66	37	55
Moorland/Hatfield	68	73	49	41	23
North Sea Camp	79	33	49	48	46
Norwich (Britten House Open Element)	—	8	2	2	1
Usk\Prescoed	35	19	9	9	8
Spring Hill	60	36	34	11	21
Standford Hill	89	39	58	38	44
Sudbury	75	77	76	78	55
Thorn Cross	130	90	105	82	68
Wealstun	144	74	28	46	32

These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.Figures on absconds and a range of other prison performance statistics are available at:"http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/abouttheservice/prison performance/performancestatistics/"

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

480 c874-5W;480 c868-9W; 225387

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Prisoner escapes Open prisons

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk