HL Deb 19 November 1996 vol 575 cc134-6WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the last five calendar years, and for 1996 to date, the number of category A and category B prisoners who have escaped from custody, showing in respect of each the name and security category of the prisoner, the offence for which in custody and the location and date of escape and of recapture.

Baroness Blatch

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 to Lord Marlesford from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the publishing of a table showing escapes by category A and category B prisoners.

Information on category A escaped prisoners is given in the attached table. Four of the escaped prisoners remain at large; two are known to be in the Republic of Ireland.

Information on category B escaped prisoners before 1995 could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Tables showing the position in 1995 and to 9 November 1996 are attached.

The tables do not include the names of escaped prisoners. The Prison Service adopts a general policy that precludes release of the names and offences of individuals.

Escapes from escorts—category A prisoners 1991–1996 (to 10.11.96)
Date of escape Establishment Location of escape Date of recapture Offence Status
31.12.91 HMP Wakefield Seacroft Hospital Leeds 31.12.91 Rape Convicted
17.2.93 HMP Manchester Manchester Crown Court 6.3.93 Murder Convicted
5.4.95 HMP Wormwood Scrubs West Hendon Magistrates Court At Large Attempted Murder Remand
5.6.95 HMP Belmarsh En Route Old Bailey Belmarsh 19.7.96 Kidnap, Robbery Remand
5.6.95 HMP Belmarsh En Route Old Bailey Belmarsh 5.6.95 Kidnap, Robbery Remand
11.10.95 HMP Frankland Newcastle General Hospital At Large Murder Convicted

Escapes from establishments—category A prisoners 1991–1996 (to 10.11.96)
Date of escape Establishment Date of recapture Offence Status
7.7.91 HMP Brixton At Large Conspiracy to Murder Remand
7.7.91 HMP Brixton At Large Conspiracy to Murder Remand
22.10.91 HMP Parkhurst 4.1.92 Possession of Firearm Convicted
1.4.92 HMP Frankland 2.8.92 Robbery Convicted
9.9.94 HMP Whitemoor 9.9.94 Murder Convicted
9.9.94 HMP Whitemoor 9.9.94 Conspiracy to Cause Explosion Convicted
9.9.94 HMP Whitemoor 9.9.94 Explosion Convicted
9.9.94 HMP Whitemoor 9.9.94 Possession of Firearms Convicted
9.9.94 HMP Whitemoor 9.9.94 Explosion Convicted
9.9.94 HMP Whitemoor 9.9.94 Conspiracy to Cause Explosion Convicted
3.1.95 HMP Parkhurst 8.1.95 Murder Convicted
3.1.95 HMP Parkhurst 8.1.95 Conspiracy to Cause Explosion Convicted

Escapes: 1995—category B prisoners
Date of escape Establishment Location of escape Date of recapture Offence
3.1.95 HMP Parkhurst HMP Parkhurst 8.1.95 Murder
14.2.95 HMP Durham Local Hospital 14.7.96 Violent Disorder
24.3.95 HMP Liverpool Local Hospital 8.6.95 GBH
11.4.95 HMP Birmingham Birmingham Crown Court 12.4.95 Burglary
10.5.95 HMP Blundeston Local Hospital 23.5.95 Assault with Intent to Rob
22.6.95 HMP Durham En route Wetherby to Leeds 22.6.95 Robbery
24.7.95 HMP Frankland Chester-Le-St-Hospital 15.1.96 Robbery
25.7.95 HMP Blundeston HMP Blundeston 27.7.95 Murder
30.7.95 HMP Wormwood Scrubs HMP Wormwood Scrubs 7.8.95 Murder
30.7.95 HMP Wormwood Scrubs HMP Wormwood Scrubs 8.2.96 Murder

Escapes: 1996 (to 9.11.96)—category B prisoners
Date of escape Establishment Location of escape Date of recapture Offence
3.1.96 HMP Maidstone Outside Hospital 3.1.96 Robbery
13.3.96 HMP Kingston Home Visit 23.8.96 Murder
9.11.96 HMP Blundeston En Route Blundeston to London Prisons At Large Robbery
9.11.96 HMP Blundeston En Route Blundeston to London Prisons At Large Robbery
9.11.96 HMP Blundeston En Route Blundeston to London Prisons At Large Robbery
9.11.96 HMP Blundeston En Route Blundeston to London Prisons 13.11.96 Robbery
9.11.96 HMP Blundeston En Route Blundeston to London Prisons 10.11.96 Robbery
9.11.96 HMP Blundeston En Route Blundeston to London Prisons At Large Possible Firearm with Intent