Two prisoners escape open jails EACH WEEK including murderers and rapists – and more than 630 have absconded in the past five years, figures show
- Inmates transferred to Category D ‘open’ prisons to test readiness for release
- Some vanished after being allowed out to work or to attend classes or see family
- Escapees since 2015 include 22 jailed for life after being convicted of murder
- Prisons with most escapes are HMP Sudbury with 108 and HMP Kirkham with 93
A total of 631 have absconded from the jails in the past five years, including murderers and rapists.
Some have vanished after being allowed out to work or to attend education classes, or to visit family.
Inmates are transferred to Category D prisons with ‘open’ conditions – including minimal supervision and perimeter security – to test their readiness for release.
But critics said the figures, gleaned from Ministry of Justice bulletins, were fresh evidence that jails are becoming too soft.
A total of 631 have absconded from the jails in the past five years, including murderers and rapists. Pictured: Since 2015, HMP Kirkham in Lancashire has had 93 escapees
They urged ministers to introduce tougher measures to safeguard the community. Officially, criminals who escape from open prisons are described as ‘absconders’ because they do not have to overcome walls, locks or handcuffs.
Among the inmates fleeing since 2015 were 22 jailed for life after being convicted of murder and 18 men behind bars for rape.
Seven vanished while serving a sentence for manslaughter and four while in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.
The official statistics show that 37 of the convicts – or one in 17 – are still at large.
The open prisons with the worst record for absconds were HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire with 108 and HMP Kirkham in Lancashire with 93.
David Spencer, of the Centre For Crime Prevention think-tank, said: ‘The law-abiding public will be terrified that more than one hundred serious and violent offenders, including murderers are being allowed to freely walk out of prison and back on to the streets every year.
Some have vanished after being allowed out to work or to attend education classes, or to visit family. Pictured: HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire has the worst record, with 108 prisoners escaping since 2015
‘Jail sentences are only handed down to serious offenders these days and it is ridiculous that many of them are then put into these holiday-camp prisons and allowed to come and go as they please.
‘The huge number escaping is a clear sign that our open prison policy has to change and all serious and violent offenders must be kept … in proper prisons.’
The Prison Officers’ Association has blamed the absconds on staff shortages and low morale following cuts.
However, the number of inmates fleeing open prisons has dropped from a high of 1,301 under Tony Blair’s Labour in 2004 to 120 last year. In 2014, the rules were tightened up after a series of high-profile break-outs.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘Public protection is our top priority and keeping prisoners in lawful custody where they cannot pose a risk of harm to the public is key.
‘Those who abscond face tough consequences, including being returned to closed prison conditions.’
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