HC Deb 07 January 2004 vol 416 cc420-1W
Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners at HM Prison Sudbury have absconded during(a) 2003 and (b) 2002.[141398]

(2) how many prisoners who absconded from HM Prison Sudbury during (a) 2003 and (b) 2002 have not been recaptured;[141263]

(3) how long it took to recapture each prisoner who absconded from HM Prison Sudbury during (a) 2003 and (b) 2002;[141264]

(4) how many of the prisoners at HM Prison Sudbury who absconded during (a) 2003 and (b) 2002 were convicted of (i) murder, (ii) grievous bodily harm and (iii) sexual offences;[141400]

(5) how many of those who absconded from HM Prison Sudbury during (a) 2003 and (b) 2002 committed further offences for which they have been charged during the period of time they were away from the prison; and with what offences they were charged.[141262]

Paul Goggins

The figures given relate to financial years. In 2002–03 the number of prisoners who absconded from HMP Sudbury was 67. Of these seven have not yet been recaptured. As at 1 December 2003,56 prisoners had absconded from Sudbury during 2003–04. Of these, 14 have not yet been recaptured. All prisoners who are recaptured after absconding from open prisons like Sudbury are immediately returned to closed establishments

The following two tables set out the length of time taken to recapture these prisoners, and the number of abscondees serving sentences for murder, grievous bodily harm and sex offences

Unlawfully at large April 2002–03 April 2003 to date
1 day 7 11
2–5 days 12 10
6–10 days 3 3
11–20 days 6 5
21–30 days 7 3
31–50 days 11 6
51–100 days 10 2
101–200 days 4 1
201–300 days 0 1
Over 300 days 0 0
Still unlawfully at large 7 14
Total 67 56
Offence 2002–03 2003–04 to date
Murder 2 5
GBH 3 6
Sex offences 0 0

Information on offences committed by prisoners during their period at large is not held in the form requested. As prisoners recaptured after absconding from Sudbury would immediately be sent to a closed establishment, Sudbury would not be informed of the subsequent convictions of those who had previously absconded