HC Deb 02 February 1989 vol 146 c383W
52. Mr. Boyes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from custody in 1988; and what crimes were they originally convicted of.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Information held centrally shows that, during 1988, 267 inmates escaped from within closed prison service establishments in England and Wales or from outside escorts. This figure includes both convicted and unconvicted inmates. The offences of which they had been convicted, or with which they had been charged, are categorised in the table. Multiple offences or charges are categorised according to the most serious offence.

Offence categories (including attempts)
Number
Murder or Manslaughter 6
Sexual offences 3
Other offences against the person 24
Burglary 120
Robbery 29
Theft, forgery and related offences 37
Others 48