Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people are currently at large having escaped from custody; and what that figure was in each of the last five years.

Data is available on the number of offenders still at large, who had escaped from custody as of 1st May of each year. Across the five years, 55 offenders escaped from custody.

Escapes from custody include where an offender flees during a court appearance, when being escorted from court to prison and, in extremely rare circumstances, directly from prison.

The vast majority were recaptured by police either immediately or within a matter of hours. Offenders who break the law will be punished and face extra time in jail when appropriate.

Please see the below table for a breakdown of these figures by year and whether the prisoner was still at large on 1st May of that year.

(1) 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.

(2) Includes escapes from establishments, HMPPS escorts and contractor escorts

(3) Still at large as at 1st May 2018

(4) Still at large as at 1st May 2019

(5) Still at large as at 1st May 2020

(6) Still at large as at 1st May 2021

(7) Still at large as at 1st May 2022