§ 16. Sir Richard Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the last occasion before capital punishment was abolished when a prison officer was murdered while attempting to prevent an escape.
§ Miss BaconIn 1920, at Rochester borstal, an officer was killed by an escaping inmate though not as a result of trying to prevent the escape. The inmate, a youth of 18, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death but the sentence was respited.
§ Sir Richard GlynWould the right hon. Lady agree that it is over half a century since a prison officer was killed in attempting to prevent an escape? Will she say what steps her right hon. Friend is taking to make sure that such tragedies do not become more common and whether the Department is satisfied that the present position is a sufficient deterrent to prevent desperate prisoners or their accomplices from taking life to effect an escape?
§ Miss BaconThis matter is receiving the urgent attention of my right hon. Friend. This was a very tragic incident which we all deeply regret, and I sincerely hope that it will not occur for another half century.