§ Sir K. Josephasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the rate of escapes from prison in recent years; how that rate compares with that of the immediate post-war years; how many prisoners were unlawfully at large on the last convenient date; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. ButlerEscapes from prison custody fall into three categories (1) from conditions of security in closed prisons, (2) from closed prisons but not from conditions of security, e.g., prisoners in 183W transit, attending outside hospitals, on outside working parties, or failing to return when on parole, (3) from open prisons.
It is to the first category that the major public concern attaches, since these are escapes which evidently should have been prevented and the prisoners concerned are more likely to be men with bad records and serving long sentences.
The numbers of escapes in this category for the past three years, as compared with the three years 1945–1947, were as follows:
1945 51 1955 11 1946 44 1956 22 1947 47 1957 15 The ratio of escapes to daily average population was for 1945–47, 1:270; for 1955–57, 1:1,100.
It would appear from these figures that the security of closed prisons had greatly improved over the period and that the number of escapes, in the overcrowded condition; of most of the prisons, gave no special ground for concern.
During the present year, however, escapes have so far been at a higher rate, the number at a recent date being 27.
I have already inquired into the reasons for this deterioration, and shall take all necessary steps to ensure that there is no relaxation of proper standards of security.
The numbers of escapes from outside closed prisons were:
prisons were:
1955 1956 1957 41 25 57 The numbers of escapes from open prisons were:
1955 1956 1957 18 46 76 The number of prisoners unlawfully at large on a recent date was 16.