§ Mrs. RocheTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 810, for what reason information on escapes from Greater London prisons is not available.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 13 February 1995]: Responsibility 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 Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 14 February 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, pursuant to his Answer of 2 February, Official Report, column 810, for what reason information on escapes from Greater London prisons is not available.
Information about escapes has only been recorded centrally since 20 June 1988. Before this date, all relevant information was held at establishments, or regional offices, for inclusion in the Annual Report on the work of the Prison Department.
The data for 1979 is contained in the Prison Department Annual Report for 1979. It details only escapes from specific establishments for male adult and young prisoners. It does not record the establishment from which borstal trainees or detention centre trainees escaped. The same Report details one escaper from Brixton prison and three escapers from Latchmere House remand centre within the Greater London area.
The Prison Department Annual Report for 1984–85 records three escapers from Ashford remand centre and one escaper from Latchmere House remand centre. It does not record the establishment from which young offenders or females escaped.
The Prison Department Annual Report for 1985–86 records four escapers from Ashford remand centre, five escapers from Brixton prison, four escapers from Pentonville prison and one escaper from Wormwood Scrubs prison. There are no details of the prisons from which the young offenders or females escaped.
During the year ending 31 March 1994 there were eleven escapers from establishments within the Greater London area, namely:
- Six escapers from Downview prison
- Three escapers from Feltham young offenders institution
- One escaper from Highdown prison One escaper from Pentonville prison
These figures do not include those prisoners who escaped from escort from Greater London prisons.