§ Lord Marlesfordasked 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 BlatchResponsibility 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.
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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 136WA
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