§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people found guilty of a criminal offence escaped from court last year; and of these, how many failed to be recaptured. [100483]
§ Hilary BennInformation received from the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service shows that 34 persons escaped from courts in England and Wales in 2002, but information held centrally does not identify whether these persons were convicted or whether a recapture took place. As this information will need to be collated I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available. In addition, a further 21 persons escaped but were recaptured within 15 minutes.