Prisoners' Release: Maladministration and Prisoner Escapes
(asked on 2nd December 2022) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of inmates who have been (a) released in error and (b) escaped prison in the month of December in each year since 2018.
A prisoner escapes if they breach the secure perimeter of a closed prison. While incidents are extremely rare, prisoners face prosecution and more time behind bars when recaptured. The vast majority of escapees are promptly recaptured by police within hours.
A prisoner is released in error if released earlier than their correct release date. They will be unlawfully at large until they are subsequently released correctly or returned to custody.
Data on escapes and releases in error for the month of December in each year since 2018 is as follows:
Month | Releases in error | Escapes |
Dec-18 | 3 | 0 |
Dec-19 | 2 | 2 |
Dec-20 | 2 | 0 |
Dec-21 | 3 | 1 |
Data sources and quality
These figures have been drawn from the HMPPS Incident Reporting System. Care is taken when processing and analysing returns but the detail is subject to the to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Although shown to the last case, the figures may not be accurate to that level.
(1) A prisoner is released in error if they are released earlier than their correct release date they will be unlawfully at large until and unless they are subsequently released correctly or returned to custody.
(2) A prisoner escapes when they are able to pass beyond the perimeter of a secure prison or the control of escorting staff. This may involve overcoming physical security restraints such as a wall or fence; locks, bolts or bars; a secure vehicle; handcuffs; or the direct supervision of escorting staff.
(3) Includes both escapes from establishments (by breaching the secure perimeter of prison grounds) and escort areas (either the control of escorting prison staff or the secure vehicles or supervision of contracted prison escorts).
Figures for the number of escapes and releases in error from prison custody are published in the Annual Digest in July each year, the latest published year being 2021-22. Figures from April 2022 onwards are exempt for future publication.