HL Deb 26 July 1993 vol 548 cc72-3WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the number of escapes and attempted escapes from prison service escorts, excluding Group 4 escorts, in each of the last five years and whether those incidents occurred from secure custom-built vehicles or from private hire commercial vehicles.

Earl Ferrers

Responsibility for the subject of this Question has been delegated to the prison service and its Director General, Mr. Derek Lewis. The Director General has therefore responded to the Question and his letter is given below.

Letter from Mr. Derek Lewis, Director General of H. M. Prison Service, to Lord Graham of Edmonton:

Earl Ferrers has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the number of escapes and attempted escapes from Prison Service escorts, excluding Group 4 escorts, in each of the last 5 years and the type of transporting vehicle used.

The information requested is available centrally only for prisoners who have escaped, or attempted to escape, from prison custody while on escort. since 20th June 1988. The type of vehicle in which the prisoners were being transported is not necessarily recorded and is therefore not readily available. This information could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

Escapes/ Attempted escapes from escorts
Year> Escapes Attempted escapes
11988 61 8
1989 118 10
1990 119 35
1991 144 51
1992 147 43
2 1993 91 20
1 (from 20 June).
2 (to 30 June).

This information is derived from the Incident Management Support Unit, as part of the Directorate of Custody.