Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have absconded from Category D prisons in the last year; and how many remain at large.

Data on absconds are published annually in the HMPPS Annual Digest. Currently, data on absconds is published to the end of March 2025. Data to the 12 months to March 2026 will be published on the 30 July.

Public protection is our top priority. When a prisoner absconds, police are immediately notified and are responsible for locating the offender. The majority of absconders are quickly recaptured and returned to custody. Those who abscond face serious consequences, including being returned to closed prison conditions, where they may serve up to two additional years on conviction.