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Prisoner Escapes
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners serving sentences for (a) murder, (b) attempted murder, (c) rape and (d) attempted rape are currently unlawfully at large having escaped or absconded from prison. [295849]
[Official Report, 26 October 2009, Vol. 498, c. 86-88W.]
Letter of correction from Maria Eagle:
Errors have been identified in the written answer given to the hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 26 October 2009. The correct answer should have been:
Mr. Straw: The following table shows that there are only three offenders currently unlawfully at large who were serving a sentence for any of the four index offences named. Data prior to the periods shown in the table is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Absconds (which are from open prisons) and escapes (from closed prisons) have been falling for some years and 2008-09 recorded the lowest number of absconds and escapes on record. Tracking down prisoners unlawfully at large who may be a danger to the public is taken very seriously by the police and 96 per cent. of absconded prisoners are rearrested and returned to custody.
| Prisoners still unlawfully at large in October 2009 following an escape or abscond and broken down by specific index offences | ||||
| Prisoners unlawfully at large with an index offence of: | ||||
| Murder | Attempted murder | Rape | Attempted rape | |
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