§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners, whether awaiting trial or convicted, have escaped from custody or escort and are still at large; and (a) what number of these are deemed to be dangerous and (b) how many were convicted or awaiting trial on offences involving violence.
§ Mr. HurdReliable information is not available for the period before 1981. Of those adult prisoners who escaped from closed prisons between 1 January 1981 and 30 September 1983, 24 were still at large on 17 November 1983. A further 75, who had absconded from within open establishments were also at large. We have no set definition of "dangerous", but nine of the 99 prisoners referred to above had been convicted of offences of violence against the person.