Written question asked by Alan Duncan (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 November 2009. It was answered by Maria Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Prisoner Escapes

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) category A prisoners and (b) prisoners categorised as at risk of attempting to escape held at HM Prison Brixton were moved prior to a security audit or inspection in each of the last five years.

Answer: Brixton has not held any Category A prisoners in the last five years. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Straw) said in his written ministerial statement on 11 March 2010, Official Report, columns 30-32WS, on prison transfers prior to HMCDP Inspections, three prisoners were transferred from Brixton to High Down and Wandsworth prior to the April 2008 investigation and returned after the inspection. A further prisoner was transferred to Wandsworth but did not return to Brixton. Another prisoner was discharged to court from Brixton prior to the inspection and was transferred to Chelmsford prison from court. Each of these five prisoners was individually assessed as a potential escape risk (E-list).My right hon. Friend's statement also set out the outcome of the investigation into the three transfers where the prisoners returned to Brixton.

Secondary information