The table shows the total number of home leave applications, further broken down to show the number of applications accepted, rejected and cancelled for the years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 to date. The great majority were in respect of prisoners completing their sentences at Magilligan prison.
Information for the years 2001-02 and 2002-03 plus the cancelled and rejected breakdown for 2003-04 is not readily available. I regret that to provide this would incur disproportionate costs.
Number of applications Accepted (approved) Rejected or withdrawn 2003-04 2,947 2,030 917 2004-05 2,531 1,817 714 2005-06 2,790 2,173 617 2006-07(to date) 512 377 135
The table shows the number of prisoners who failed to return to prison following periods of pre-release home leave including at weekends and compassionate release in Northern Ireland for the years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 to date.
The information sought for the previous years is not available without incurring disproportionate costs.
(a) Weekend Leave (b) Compassionate Release 2004-05 4 13 2005-06 11 12 2006-07 (to date) 2 6
The great majority of these prisoners have been returned to prison—only two prisoners remain unlawfully at large following periods of pre-release home leave and two following release by courts on compassionate bail.
Three prisoners have absconded from accompanying staff while released on compassionate leave over the last five years as shown.
Details Number of absconds 2001-02 Accompanied by two probation officers 1 2002-03 Accompanied by a prison chaplain 1 2003-04 — 0 2004-05 — 0 2005-06 — 0 2006-07 (to date) Accompanied by a prison chaplain 1
The following table indicates compensation paid to prisoners due to (a) accidental injury and (b) successful claim of assault by a member of staff.
Category Period Number of claims Amount (£) Accidental injury 2005-06 12 14,150 Successful claim of assault by a member of staff 2005-06 7 2,500 Note: Social security agency payments for reimbursement of benefits in relation to alleged injuries are not included.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service does not currently have a programme of mandatory drug testing, although its planned to make the necessary changes to the prison rules later this year. In the meantime there is extensive drug testing of prisoners, on a voluntary basis, mainly as part of the Progressive Regime and Earned Privileges Scheme.
The latest published cost per prisoner place figures relate to the 2004-05 financial year, when they totalled £85,935.
The NI Prison Service publishes the average cost per prisoner place in its annual report and accounts. The 2005-06 annual report and accounts will be laid before Parliament in July.