§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make it his policy that when high risk prisoners are given temporary unescorted release(a) the airports they are expected to use and (b) the police of the area to which they are to travel are informed in advance; [41206]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 14 October about the temporary release of unescorted high risk prisoners, when he last reviewed policy on the matter; and when the next review is planned. [41207]
§ Sir John WheelerResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Prisons Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alan Shannon. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Alan Shannon to Mr. Alfred Morris, dated 17 October 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to the two Parliamentary Questions which you tabled about policy in relation to the unescorted temporary release of high risk prisoners.You asked about the review of policy. Issues relating to risk are considered whenever changes in temporary release mechanisms are contemplated. The last significant change in compassionate release arrangements was in June 1995. The last significant change in escorting arrangements was in 1983. Policy in relation to unescorted release is currently being reviewed in the light of Liam Heffeman's failure to return from leave.You asked about notification. This is an operational matter for the police.