HL Deb 23 January 1991 vol 525 cc8-9WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prison officers have been assaulted by prison inmates in each of the last 15 years.

Lord Reay

The available information relates to offences of gross personal violence or assault on a prison officer under the prison discipline system. Information about officers on escort duty is included but is not separately recorded. Data for 1975 and 1985 to 1989 are given in the table. Information for 1990 is not yet complete and figures for other years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Lord Reay

The available information relates to offences of gross personal violence or assault on a prison officer under the prison discipline system. Information about officers on escort duty is included but is not separately recorded. Data for 1975 and 1985 to 1989 are given in the table. Information for 1990 is not yet complete and figures for other years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Period Number of escapes
1981 220
1982 181
1983 144
1984–85 195
1985–86 184
1986–87 85
1987–88 68
1988–89 116
1989–90 104
1990–911 93

1 Up to 9th January 1991.

Notes:

(i) The information shown has largely been derived from published annual reports on the work of the Prison Department, the most convenient source.

(ii) The figures for 1981 to 1983 relate to the calendar year; the figure for 1984–85 covers the 15-month period from 1st January 1984 to 31st March 19855. Subsequent figures relate to the financial year, until the final period which covers from 1st April 1990 to 9th January 1991.

(iii) All figures relate to numbers of inmates.

(iv) The figures for the years 1981 to 1985–86 include escapes from supervised working parties. Separate figures are not available for escapes from escorts in those years; or in any year for escapes only from escorts to or court, or between establishments.