International Law

Ten absconders still on the run

By John Hirst

Ten people who have absconded from Leyhill Open Prison in South Gloucestershire since 2004 are still on the run, the BBC has learnt.

The prisoners were serving sentences for crimes including importing drugs and possessing a firearm.

Northavon MP Steve Webb said the decision by the Ministry of Justice not to name the absconders is ludicrous.

"When someone walks out of Leyhill it is all over the papers. The idea we cannot be told who is absurd," he said.

Mr Webb now plans to lobby the justice minister Jack Straw, to get the information made public

"I don't see why there cannot be a website with names and details so if the public sees them they don't approach them and know who to report them to.

"At the moment we are left in the dark - that's not acceptable," he said.

They are not exactly on the Ten Most Wanted list, so I fail to see how listing them on a website is going to do much good. This is very low priority. The authorities tend to wait until they re-offend or just fall into their hands following a routine inquiry. Hasn't Steve Webb got anything more important to do?

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on July 12, 2008 (boomark / email).