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Prison absconder numbers unknown Prison absconder numbers unknown
(about 3 hours later)
The director general of the Prison Service has admitted that he does not know exactly how many inmates are on the run from open jails.The director general of the Prison Service has admitted that he does not know exactly how many inmates are on the run from open jails.
Phil Wheatley said there was no system in place to count the numbers recaptured after absconding, but such a database would now be developed.Phil Wheatley said there was no system in place to count the numbers recaptured after absconding, but such a database would now be developed.
Classed as Category D, open prisons have a more relaxed security regime.Classed as Category D, open prisons have a more relaxed security regime.
Almost 700 offenders absconded in the year to last April from England's 15 open prisons, Mr Wheatley estimated.Almost 700 offenders absconded in the year to last April from England's 15 open prisons, Mr Wheatley estimated.
Earlier this week, the Home Office, replying to a Freedom of Information Act request, said 401 of the prisoners remained at large when figures were compiled last May. Earlier this week, the Home Office, replying to a Freedom of Information Act request, said 401 of the prisoners remained at large, but the figures were compiled last May.
But Mr Wheatley said he was "embarrassed" to admit he was unable to provide an accurate figure because there was no central database for recording numbers of recaptured prisoners. But Mr Wheatley said he was "embarrassed" to admit he was unable to provide an accurate up-to-date figure because there was no central database for recording numbers of recaptured prisoners.
'Majority arrested''Majority arrested'
Open prisons are often used to prepare low-risk inmates for release.Open prisons are often used to prepare low-risk inmates for release.
The crucial thing is that the police know who is unlawfully at large Phil Wheatley Prison Service chief Send us your comments href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6236909.stm" class="">What are open prisons? The crucial thing is that the police know who is unlawfully at large Phil Wheatley Prison Service chief Send us your comments
Mr Wheatley said the "vast majority" of inmates who abscond were "arrested promptly".Mr Wheatley said the "vast majority" of inmates who abscond were "arrested promptly".
"I know that about three-quarters of the people at liberty unlawfully are back inside within a 12-month period," he said."I know that about three-quarters of the people at liberty unlawfully are back inside within a 12-month period," he said.
He said the number of people absconding from open prisons was at its lowest level for more than 10 years.He said the number of people absconding from open prisons was at its lowest level for more than 10 years.
OPEN PRISONS Total capacity of around 5,000Houses secure jail transfersInmates categorised as low-riskCounselling, horticulture and vocational activities A central database would not help the service track missing prisoners any more efficiently, but one would be created in order to answer future queries, Mr Wheatley added. OPEN PRISONS Total capacity of around 5,000Houses secure jail transfersInmates categorised as low-riskCounselling, horticulture and vocational activities href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6236909.stm" class="">What are open prisons? A central database would not help the service track missing prisoners any more efficiently, but one would be created in order to answer future queries, Mr Wheatley added.
"That will cost us some cash. We will divert it to make sure we build a system so we can respond to queries. It won't add any value in terms of are people caught or not."That will cost us some cash. We will divert it to make sure we build a system so we can respond to queries. It won't add any value in terms of are people caught or not.
"The crucial thing is that the police know who is unlawfully at large, and when they pick someone up know is that person unlawfully at large and can they be brought back into custody. That the system does perfectly.""The crucial thing is that the police know who is unlawfully at large, and when they pick someone up know is that person unlawfully at large and can they be brought back into custody. That the system does perfectly."
Overcrowding moveOvercrowding move
Although others are likely to have been caught since May, the failure to capture prisoners early will fuel concerns about whether open prisons are being used appropriately, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said Mr Wheatley's admission was "yet another symptom of the government's self-inflicted overcrowding crisis in our prisons".
"With chronically overcrowded prisons, it is inevitable that the wrong kind of offender ends up in open prisons and that the system simply struggles to keep a proper head count," he said.
Absconders' photos releasedAbsconders' photos released
Seventy criminals, including three murderers, absconded from one open prison, Ford Open Prison, in West Sussex in 2006.
The Probation Officers' Union, Napo, said the Home Office's policy of transferring prisoners to open jails to ease overcrowding in jails needed to be "urgently reviewed".The Probation Officers' Union, Napo, said the Home Office's policy of transferring prisoners to open jails to ease overcrowding in jails needed to be "urgently reviewed".
"We have had open jails for decades and it does seem odd that no system for tracking them is in place," said Napo's Harry Fletcher. Napo's Harry Fletcher said overcrowding in the prison system had led to an increase in inmates being transferred to open jails since October and it would be "wise" to update IT systems.
He said overcrowding in the prison system had led to an increase in inmates being transferred to open jails since October and it would be "wise" to update IT systems.
'Wanted' photos'Wanted' photos
The state of the prison service was a big political issue in 2006 and it is likely to remain under scrutiny this year. But Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said open prisons were a vital part of the rehabilitation process of long-term offenders.
The issue of foreign prisoners being released rather than deported led to the sacking of Home Secretary Charles Clarke in 2006. "Instead of panicking about absconds from open prisons... or berating the Prison Service which, despite gross overcrowding, has been able to reduce absconds and cut escapes from closed institutions, we should all demand to know what the Home Secretary is doing about appalling reconviction rates," she said.
She said those were running at over two in three of all released prisoners and well over three-quarters of young offenders.
Meanwhile, police hunting two convicted murderers who absconded from an open jail released photos of the pair.Meanwhile, police hunting two convicted murderers who absconded from an open jail released photos of the pair.
Jason Croft, also known as Jason Fox, 28, from Salford and Michael Nixon, also 28, of Blackley, Manchester, left Sudbury Prison in Derbyshire last year.Jason Croft, also known as Jason Fox, 28, from Salford and Michael Nixon, also 28, of Blackley, Manchester, left Sudbury Prison in Derbyshire last year.