Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners were transferred from open conditions to closed conditions who had previously (a) absconded or escaped from prison and (b) breached a licence condition whilst released on temporary licence following the recent review of release on temporary licence.
In March, we announced a package of measures to ensure that the public was properly protected with respect to the offenders being held in open conditions. Absconds and escapes have reached record lows under this Government, and we take each incident seriously. As a result of a comprehensive review, we have made major changes to tighten the eligibility criteria for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
A total of 115 cases were assessed centrally by a panel comprised of NOMS senior managers, including representation from both prisons and probation. Cases were reviewed where there was a history, on the current sentence, of abscond; escape or attempted escape; or an offence committed whilst on temporary release. 9 of these prisoners were returned to closed conditions as a result. Local risk reviews were directed on a further 14 offenders, with 2 returned to closed conditions following review.
As part of business as usual, open prisons return prisoners to closed conditions where they judge that they can no longer be managed safely in open conditions. Figures for this ongoing process are not included here.