§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women who were serving a prison sentence have escaped and are still at large; and on what dates and in what circumstances they absconded.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewes to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 1 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of sentenced prisoners who have escaped and who are still at large.Of the sentenced population, 67 male and two female prisoners are still at large. A table showing the dated and circumstanct of 851W each escape is enclosed, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.Many of the escapes have been through a breach of the perimeter of category C prison. We are part way through a major programme to upgrade the perimeter fences of such prisons which will make escape significantly more difficult.A substantial proportion of escapes in the past have also been from escort. As a result of a range of initiatives, the number of escapes from escort is falling. If current trends continue, such escapes will be over 50 per cent. lower in 1994–95 than in 1992–93.852W
Date Male or Female Circumstances of Escape 3 November 1988 F From Crown Court (escort) 10 February 1989 M Through the fence at HMP Aldington 31 October 1989 M Through the fence at HMP Northeye 17 November 1989 M Through the fence at HMYOI and RC Feltharn 7 December 1989 M Over the fence at HMP Oxford 1 April 1990 M Through the fence at HMP Send 4 August 1990 M Through the fence at HMP Littlehey 20 February 1991 M Over the fence at HMP Aldington 15 May 1991 M From outside hospital (escort) 14 June 1991 M Over the fence at HMP Aldington 23 June 1991 M Through the fence at HMP Aldington 29 June 1991 M Through the fence at HMP Norwich 6 August 1991 M Through the fence at HMP The Mount 6 August 1991 M Through the fence at HMP The Mount 22 September 1991 M Over the fence at HMP Bedford 24 October 1991 M Through the fence at HMP Wayland 2 February 1992 M Over the fence at HMP Downview 11 February 1992 M Over the fence at HMP Channings Wood 11 February 1992 M Over the fence at HMP Channings Wood 17 February 1992 M From Crown Court (escort) 21 March 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Wellingborough 24 April 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Featherstone 25 May 1992 M Over the fence at HMP Blantyre House 6 June 1992 M Over the fence at HMP Highpoint 1 July 1992 F From outside hospital (escort) 3 August 1992 M Hidden in laundry van at HMP Elmley 3 August 1992 M Hidden in laundry van at HMP Elmley 11 September 1992 M From family visit (escort) 26 September 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Highpoint 26 September 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Highpoint 4 October 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Highpoint 4 October 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Highpoint 8 November 1992 M Through the fence at HMP Downview
Date Male or Female Circumstances of Escape 12 November 1992 M From outside hospital (escort) 30 November 1992 M From outside hospital (escort) 1 April 1993 M From coach on route to prison (escort) 7 April 1993 M Through fence at HMP Wellingborough 2 June 1993 M Escape from HMP Channings Wood—method unknown 25 June 1993 M From outside hospital (escort) 2 August 1993 M Escape from HMP Blantyre House—method unknown 4 September 1993 M Over the fence at HMP Downview 13 October 1993 M Escape from HMP Ranby—method unknown 23 October 1993 M Escape from HMYOI and RC Feltham—method unknown 29 November 1993 M Through fence at HMP Featherstone 16 December 1993 M From family visit (escort) 20 December 1993 M Through the fence at HMP Wellingborough 20 December 1993 M Through the fence at HMP Wellingborough 10 February 1994 M From coach en route to prison (escort) 23 March 1994 M From outside hospital (escort) 11 April 1994 M From family visit (escort) 22 May 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Wellingborough 12 June 1994 M From outside hospital (escort) 21 June 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Lindholme 21 June 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Lindholme 8 July 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Wellingborough 24 July 1994 M Through the fence at HMYOI Wetherby 24 July 1994 M Through the fence at HMYOI Wetherby 28 July 1994 M Escape from HMP Littlehey—method unknown 30 July 1994 M From visits at HMP Swaleside 3 August 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Downview 22 August 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Send 25 August 1994 M Through the fence at HMP Lindholme 30 August 1994 M Over the wall HMP Featherstone 18 September 1994 M Over the fence at HMP Camp Hill 22 October 1994 M Over the fence at HMP Blantyre House 15 November 1994 M From outside hospital (escort) 15 November 1994 M Escape from HMP Blantyre House—method unknown 16 November 1994 M Over the fence at HMP The Mount 16 November 1994 M Over the fence at HMP The Mount