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Women Prisoners (Hospital Treatment)

Volume 270: debated on Monday 29 January 1996

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners in each year since 1990 have escaped from escort while attending hospital for antenatal care, childbirth or post-natal care; if he will list the circumstances of their escape; and from which prisons they were attending the hospital. [7539]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter front Richard Tilt to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 29 January 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many women prisoners in each year since 1990 have escaped from escort while attending hospital for antenatal care, childbirth or post-natal care, giving the circumstances of their escape and from which prisons they were attending hospital.
In this period there have been seven escapes from hospital for the stated reasons. The information is shown in the attached table.
Since 1990 there is one recorded case of a pregnant woman (32 weeks) attempting to escape from a hospital escort (Risley prison). There is another where a pregnant woman attempted to escape from a hospital escort, the pregnancy was not the reason for the hospital visit. On two occasions there were attempted escapes where the reason for the hospital visit is not known.

Date

Establishment

Details

1990

17 July 1990HollowayEscaped leaving new born child while uncuffed

1991

Nil

1992

19 February 1992HollowayEspaced through we window while uncuffed
29 August 1992HollowayEscaped when a male prisoner impeded staff while uncuffed

Date

Establishment

Details

1993

6 May 1993PucklechurchEscaped when aided by man armed with hurling stick while uncuffed
19 May 1993StyalEscaped from staff supervision, while uncuffed
5 June 1993StyalEscaped from staff supervision, while uncuffed
26 August 1993StyalEscaped when two males impeded escorting staff, while uncuffed

1994

Nil

1995

Nil

1996 (to 7 January)

Nil