The tables show the numbers of prisoners, by month and by index offence, who have absconded from, or failed to return to Ford prison between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2009. No prisoner has been classified as escaping from Ford over this time period.
Prisoners who escape or fail to return from temporary release are usually re-captured quickly and returned to a closed prison. Currently 96 per cent. of all prisoners who abscond are returned to custody. Both types of unlawful absence from the prison are criminal offences and prisons, police and the Crown Prosecution Service work together to pursue such crimes through the courts where this is appropriate. Alternatively, the prisoner may be dealt with by way of internal adjudication and may receive additional days in prison as a result of this. Details of the sanctions imposed are not held centrally and could only be obtained by identifying and contacting each closed prison where a former prisoner from Ford had been returned; this would incur disproportionate cost.
While details of the terms of custodial sentence are held centrally this could only be provided by accessing each record manually which would incur disproportionate cost.
Absconds and temporary release failures have been very successfully reduced year on year. Last year, to 31 March 2009, was the lowest level of absconds since central records began. The current year, to 31 March 2010, is forecast to produce an even lower level of absconding, both nationally across England and Wales, and at Ford.
The following table shows the number of absconds from HMP Ford over the last 12 years. With one month remaining in the year, the position at Ford reflects the national picture and shows that this year is set to be the lowest level of absconds at the prison on record.
Number of absconds HMP Ford 1997-98 50 1998-99 38 1999-2000 68 2000-01 57 2001-02 57 2002-03 91 2003-04 142 2004-05 119 2005-06 94 2006-07 63 2007-08 48 2008-09 53 2009-10 (YTD to end February 2010) 27
2007 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Affray — — — — — — 1 — — — — — Aggravated burglary — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Attempted robbery — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Breach of community service order — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Breach of suspended sentence — — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — Burglary — 1 1 1 — — 1 — — — 2 — Burglary of a dwelling place — — — 2 — — 1 — — — 1 — Burglary of non-dwelling place — — 1 — — 1 — — — — — — Common assault — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Conspiracy to import drugs — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Customs evasion (drugs related) — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Deception 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — Driving while disqualified — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Illegal immigrant/detainee — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Import/export/drug — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Manslaughter — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Murder — — — — — — — — — 1 — — Other criminal offences — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Possession of an offensive weapon — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Possession of drugs with intent to supply — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Reckless driving — — — 1 1 — — 1 — — — — Robbery — — 1 — — — — — — 1 1 1 Supplying drugs — — — — — 1 — 1 — 1 — — Taking and driving away — — 1 — — — — — — — — — Theft — — 2 — — — — — 3 — 1 — Wounding with intent to inflict GBH — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Wounding(inflicting GBH) — — 1 — — — — — — — — —
2008 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Breach of bail — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Breach of suspended sentence 1 — — — — — — — — — — — Burglary — — — — — 3 — 1 — 3 3 1 Burglary of non-dwelling place — 1 — — — — — — — — — — Causing an explosion or placing explosive — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Common assault — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Deception — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Driving while disqualified — — 1 1 — — — 1 — — — — Drunk — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Escape lawful custody — — — — — 1 — — — — 1 — Fraud — — — — — — — — 1 2 — — GBH 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — Inflict grievous bodily harm — — — — — 1 — — — — 1 — Libel — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Manslaughter — — — — — 2 — — — — — — Other burglary offences — — 1 1 — — — — — — — — Possession drugs with intent — — — — — — 1 — — — — — Possession of drugs with intent to supply 1 — — — — — — — — — — — Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life 1 — — — — — — — — — — — Robbery — — — — — 2 1 2 1 1 — — Supplying drugs — — — — — 1 — — — — — 1 Taking and driving away — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Theft — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — — Trespass with intent — 1 — — — — — — — — — —
2009 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Aggravated burglary — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Burglary 3 1 1 1 — — 2 — — — — — Burglary of a dwelling place — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — 1 Criminal damage — — — — — — 2 — — — — — Deception — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Fraud — — 1 — — — — — — — — — Going equipped for stealing — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Import/export/drug — — 1 — — — — — — — — — Inflict grievous bodily harm — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Murder — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Other driving offences — — — — — — — — — 1 1 — Possession of an offensive weapon — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Possession of drugs with intent to supply — — 1 — — — — — — — — — Possession of firearm with intent. Endanger life — — — — — — 1 — — — — — Reckless driving — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Robbery — — — — — — 2 — — — — — Taking and driving away — — — — — — 1 — — — — — Theft 1 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — Wounding with intent to inflict GBH — — — — — — — 1 — — — —
2007 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Affray — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Aggravated burglary — — 1 — — — — — — — — — Attempted burglary — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Attempted robbery — — — — — 1 — — — — — — Burglary 1 — 1 — — — — — 1 — — 1 Common assault — — — — — 1 — — — — — — False instrument — — — — — — — — — 1 — — Handling stolen goods — — — — — — 1 — — — — — Murder — 1 — — — — — — — — — — Possession drug with intent — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Robbery — — — 1 — 1 1 — 1 — — 1 Theft — — — 1 — — — 1 — — — — Possess firearm with intent — — — — — — — 1 — — — —
2008 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Affray — — 1 — — — — 1 — — — — Attempted burglary — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Blackmail — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Burglary 1 — 1 — — — — — 1 — 1 — Conspiracy burglary — — — — 1 — — — — — — — Conspiracy to supply drugs — — — — — — — — — 1 — — Death by dangerous driving — — — — — 1 — — — — — — Drunk — — 1 — — — — — — — — — GBH — — — — — 1 — — — — — — Import/export drugs — — — — — — — 2 — — — — Manslaughter — — — — — — — — 1 — — — Murder — — — — — 1 — — — — — — Robbery — — — 1 1 — — 1 — — — — Supplying drugs — — — — — 1 — 1 — — — — Theft — — — — — — — — — — 1 1 Wounding with intent — — 1 — — — — — — — — —
2009 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Attempted murder — — — — — — — — — — — 1 Burglary 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — Drive while disqualified — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Handling stolen goods — — — — 1 — — — — — — — Import/export drugs — 1 1 — — — — — — — 2 — Murder — — — 1 — — — — — — — — Robbery 1 — — — — 1 — — — — 1 — Taking and driving away — — — — 1 — — — — — — — Note: These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.