asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what constraints there are in classifying an adult category C prisoner in terms of (a) nature of offence and (b) length of sentence.

A category C prisoner is defined as one who cannot be trusted in open conditions but who does not have the ability or resources to make a determined escape attempt.The security categorisation of prisoners is decided on the basis of individual assessments that take a number of factors into account. In the case of long-term prisoners these assessments are periodically reviewed. Prisoners are not excluded by their offences or sentence lengths from being placed in category C in due course, but the assessment process is intended to exclude those who are dangerous or serious escape risks.