§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the inmates who have escaped from prisons in the United Kingdom during the current year, how many escaped from(a) closed establishments and (b) open establishments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldFrom 1 January 1991 to 18 November 1991 a total of 270 prisoners escaped from closed prison establishments in England and Wales. In the same period, two prisoners escaped from open establishments in England and Wales. Prison matters elsewhere in the United Kingdom are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.
A further 279 prisoners absconded from closed establishments and 1,022 from open establishments in England and Wales during the same period. Absconding in this context means unlawfully gaining liberty by abusing trust without having to overcome a security barrier or specific supervision.