Prison Escapes (Hansard, 23 June 1966)

§ 30. Mr. Braine
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes have been reported from closed and open prisons, respectively, this year up to the week ending 11th June, 1966; how many such escapes were reported in 1965; in how many instances were prisoners recaptured; and if he will make an inquiry into prison security generally.

§ 32 and 33. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners have escaped from Her Majesty's Prisons or while in the custody of prison officers in each of the last five years; and what is the current rate of such escapes this year;

§ 54. Mr. Carlisle
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from Her Majesty's prisons during the present year; and if he will make a statement on prison security.

§ 56. Mr. John Smith
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escaped prisoners, on average, have been at liberty in each of the past six months.

§ Mr. Roy Jenkins
To 11th June this year prison escapes of all kinds amounted to 192. I gave the breakdown of this figure in answer to a Question by the right hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Deedes) on 16th June. Although this was at a lower rate than 900 in each of the two preceding years—the figure for 1965 was 527 and for 1964 521—it is none the less a high figure and one which, naturally, causes concern.
Some escapes are due to mistakes which can be identified and corrected. A searching inquiry is carried out after each incident, and security is continuously studied with the help of the recently appointed security adviser. There is, however, an underlying problem. Most of our gaols were constructed for an era when security was based on keeping prisoners almost continuously in their cells. This is incompatible with any constructive régime of training and treatment. The problem is exacerbated by overcrowding. I am, therefore, considering urgently whether, for example, by concentrating more on perimeter security and by a more selective allocation of prisoners between different types of prison, we can combine more effective custody with modern training, even in old gaols.
I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the other figures asked for.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. An Answer of that length might well have been given at the end of Questions.

§ Mr. Braine
Do not the figures confirm that in recent years there has been a big increase in the number of escapes—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—in recent years, and especially of dangerous criminals? Is this weakening of prison security due in the main to the shortage of staff, and, if so, what urgent and active steps is the Home Secretary taking to remedy the deficiency?

§ Mr. Jenkins
As my Answer clearly showed, the figures do not indicate, contrary to what is, I think, the general view at the moment, an increase over the position in the two preceding years. But I do not in any way wish to minimise the importance of the problem. Shortage of prison staff, though one of our problems, is not necessarily the major factor.

§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
Do the figures which the right hon. Gentleman has promised to circulate in reply to Question No. 32, covering the last five years, show an upward tendency? If they do, what is the main reason for it?

§ Mr. Jenkins
The figures show that the number was higher in 1964–65 than in 1961, but they do not show a steady upward tendency. I do not consider that any single reason can be adduced to explain this, though I endeavoured in my Answer—I apologise for its length Mr. Speaker, but I was replying to five Questions together—to indicate some of the factors which, I thought, were at work.

§ Mr. Carlisle
Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that most concern has been aroused because many of the recent escapees are known to be dangerous criminals with records of violence? Can he assure us that, in his desire to improve conditions inside prisons, he does not reduce standards of security where prisoners are known to be dangerous?

§ Mr. Jenkins
Yes, Sir. That is why I placed emphasis on the selective allocation of prisoners and it is also one reason why we have greatly strengthened security wings in existing prisons and are building the new maximum security prison in the Isle of Wight.

§ Mr. Heffer
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Why was Question No. 36, standing in my name, included with these Questions answered with No. 30? The others may be similar in character but No. 36 deals specifically with Walton Prison.

§ Mr. Jenkins
I can tell my hon. Friend now. It was not so included.

§ Mr. Speaker
That seems to be the answer to that.

ESCAPES DURING 1965
	Escapes	Still at large
	Male	Female	Male	Female
Closed prisons (including Remand Centres)	77	2	7	—
Open prisons	314	11	11	—
Working parties	92	1	2	—
During transit	30	—	2	—
Totals	513	14	22	—

PRISON ESCAPES OF ALL KINDS FOR THE FIVE YEARS 1961–1966
1961	…	…	…	353
1962	…	…	…	257
1963	…	…	…	355
1964	…	…	…	521
1965	…	…	…	527
1966 (to 11th June)	…	…	…	192

ESCAPED PRISONERS AT LARGE
31st December, 1965	…	…	…	80
31st January, 1966	…	…	…	77
28th February, 1966	…	…	…	74
31st March, 1966	…	…	…	73
30th April, 1966	…	…	…	81
31st May, 1966	…	…	…	79
11th June, 1966	…	…	…	81