More than 150 prisoners tried to escape in the past five years

More than 150 prisoners have tried to escape from jails across England and Wales over the last five years, The Telegraph can reveal.

Data disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act shows there were 32 escape attempts in the 12 months to the end of March this year, and further 119 in the previous four years.

The figures are likely to fuel concerns about prison security after three inmates absconded from Hollesley Bay “open” prison in Suffolk last week.

In September, a nationwide police manhunt was launched after a prisoner facing terrorism charges allegedly escaped from Wandsworth Prison, in south-west London, by securing himself to the underside of a food delivery vehicle.

Daniel Khalife, 21, a former soldier, was recaptured three days later. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

The 151 attempted prisoner escapes, which exclude failed efforts to flee from prison escort vehicles, include incidents where escape “equipment” and “dummy” prisoners were discovered, as well as where intelligence pointed to an escape attempt.

The figures are not routinely published by the Ministry of Justice although successful escape attempts are highlighted.

Penalty of life imprisonment

There were eight breakouts including seven from prison escort vehicles between April 2022 and March 2023, with a further 63 prisoners absconding from open prisons.

The penalty for escaping is high: under common law escape from lawful custody carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment although those convicted always receive a lesser sentence.

If any breaking, cutting or force is used, the alternative charge of “breaking prison” may be brought instead. It is an offence under the Prison Act 1952 to assist an escape, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.

It explains why prisoners who have managed to break out of jail say it is not worth it.

Noel “Razor” Smith, a former armed robber who is now a writer, said his escapes – including one from HMP Verne when he was at large for 79 days – had meant he served an extra 15 years inside as punishment for his time on the run.

“The escape ensured I would never be held in any prison lower than Category B. I would never be ‘trusted’ by the system, and when my son died, my previous escapes meant I could not even go to his funeral. Escape, no matter how attractive it looks, is not worth the candle,” he wrote in Inside Time, the prisoners’ magazine.

Matthew Williams successfully broke out of the maximum security Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight. He and two other prisoners were caught five days later after failing to steal a light plane. It resulted in lengthening his prison sentence by 16 years.

“Escapes are always newsworthy events, and prisoners are often seduced by the act itself – the secret tunnels, improvised tools, outwitting of staff, etc. It makes for great entertainment if nothing else. But it is a massively costly enterprise, and history shows it rarely pays off,” he told Inside Time.

“Unless an escapee has their plan mapped out in full, including safe houses, new ID papers etc – failure is almost certain. Even worse, there is the possibility of bringing down any loved ones who have helped the would-be escaper.”

Moves to different cells

Any prisoner caught trying to escape is placed on what is known as the E-List. They face special restrictions, like a Category A prisoner, with staff recording their every movement. They may face frequent moves to different cells, and have their clothes and possessions taken away every night and returned in the morning.

They must wear an easily spotted blue-and-yellow tracksuit. Being on the E-List remains on their prison record for all time and will prevent their progression to lower security prisons.

Professor David Wilson, a former prison governor and criminologist, said escapes were rarely because of conditions or events within a jail but “what is happening outside the jail”.

“Their family will say they are having a really difficult time, their auntie may be ill, or their mother may be dying. It is something happening at home or in the community that they want to be part of,” he said.

A prison service spokesman said: “Thanks to the efforts of our diligent staff and sustained security investments there have only been five escapes from prisons since 2017.”

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