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Prisoner Escapes

Volume 487: debated on Thursday 29 January 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Northern Ireland have absconded in each of the last five years; and how long each spent at large either (a) to date or (b) before being apprehended. (251273)

Since 2004, six prisoners have absconded and not yet returned to custody (one in 2004, one in 2006, one in 2007 and three in 2008).

The following tables provide a breakdown by calendar year of all prisoners who have absconded and returned to custody from 2007 to date. Prior to 1 January 2007 the specific time periods of absence for those abscondees who returned to custody are not available on a central record. To answer this question for those years would incur disproportionate costs.

Calendar year 2007

In 2007 a total of 26 prisoners absconded of which one remains unlawfully at large (UAL).

Numbers of prisoners

(a) Number of days spent from UAL to date

(b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension

7

0

2

1

4

2

1

1

1

5

2

9

1

10

1

11

1

12

1

13

1

31

1

45

1

298

1

310

1

751

Total prisoners: 26

Total prisoners still UAL: 1

Total prisoners returned to custody: 25

Calendar year 2008

In 2008 a total of 36 prisoners absconded of which three remain unlawfully at large (UAL).

Numbers of prisoners

(a) Number of days spent from UAL to date

(b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension

12

0

7

1

2

2

2

4

2

5

1

6

1

7

1

9

1

14

1

16

1

21

1

25

1

25

1

30

1

37

307

Total prisoners: 36

Total prisoners still UAL: 3

Total prisoners returned to custody: 33

Calendar year 2009

In 2009 a total of two prisoners absconded. Both prisoners are now in prison custody.

Numbers of prisoners

(a) Number of days spent from UAL to date

(b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension

1

0

1

4

Total prisoners: 2

Total prisoners still UAL: 0

Total prisoners returned to custody: 2