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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 in England.
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 central system in place to count people who had been recaptured after escaping, but such a database would now be developed.
Classed as Category D, open prisons have a more relaxed security regime. The Conservatives said the lack of a central tally showed the "shambles" in the Prison Service had got worse.
Almost 700 offenders absconded in the year to last April from England's 15 open prisons, Mr Wheatley estimated. The Liberal Democrats said it was a symptom of prison overcrowding.
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. Hundreds escaped
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. Almost 700 inmates escaped in the year to last April from England's 15 open jails, Mr Wheatley estimated.
'Majority arrested' Earlier this week, the Home Office, replying to a Freedom of Information Act request, said 401 of the prisoners remained at large.
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 commentsThe 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". But the figures were compiled last May, and 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.
"I know that about three-quarters of the people at liberty unlawfully are back inside within a 12-month period," he said. However, he could answer queries on a case-by-case basis, and overall the number absconding was dropping, he said.
He said the number of people absconding from open prisons was at its lowest level for more than 10 years. He added that a central tally would be created in future, even though it would not help the service track missing prisoners any more efficiently.
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. "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," he said.
"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 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." 'Not rocket science'
Overcrowding move Open prisons, or category D prisons, are often used to prepare low-risk inmates for release, and have a more relaxed security regime than others.
But Colin Moses, national chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said that because of prison overcrowding, prisoners were being reclassified as suitable for open conditions "far too quickly".
It's an embarrassing shambles Edward GarnierConservatives' prison spokesman "We are seeing the wrong type of prisoner placed in category D conditions, so we are seeing an increase in the absconding rate," he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
He added: "We know on a daily basis how many people we are locking up, so surely we should know on a daily basis how many people abscond. This is not rocket science."
The Conservative Party's spokesman on prisons, Edward Garnier, accused Home Secretary John Reid of a "reckless disregard for public safety".
"It's an embarrassing shambles... it's a failure of planning, and it's a failure of management and it's a failure of producing a proper strategy which has led the government into this mess."
'Overcrowding crisis'
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".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".
OPEN PRISONS Total capacity of around 5,000Houses secure jail transfersInmates categorised as low-riskMore relaxed security regime than other jails What are open 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."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 released
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".
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.
'Wanted' photos
But Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said open prisons were a vital part of the rehabilitation process of long-term offenders.But Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said open prisons were a vital part of the rehabilitation process of long-term offenders.
"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. "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.
Absconders' photos released
She said those were running at over two in three of all released prisoners and well over three-quarters of young offenders.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.