A convicted criminal escaped from Standford Hill open prison in Kent, England, and used a makeshift weapon to force a nurse to drive him to a cash machine. This incident raises concerns about the security of open prisons and the potential for relaxed rules to increase the risk of absconding.
A convicted criminal escaped from Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent before using a makeshift weapon to force a nurse to drive him to a cash machine. The convict, who was scheduled to attend a working party at the prison, went missing from the prison grounds and accosted the nurse in a nearby car park. He then ordered the healthcare worker to drive him to the nearest village and demanded she withdraw money from a cash point before fleeing the scene.
The individual was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and robbery by police. \'This prisoner is back behind bars and police are investigating,' a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman told the Telegraph. 'We take violence against our hard-working staff incredibly seriously and, if found guilty, he will be punished.' \The incident comes amid concerns about the security of open prisons and the potential for relaxed rules to increase the risk of absconding. Earlier this month, it was announced that rules on sending criminals to open jails could be relaxed despite fears it would worsen unrest. Open jails have lower security measures and allow inmates to leave the premises during the day to attend work and education. The Government is exploring allowing inmates to be held in open conditions for up to five years before their release, rather than the current three years. This move could also mean that official guidance would permanently change to allow convicts to be placed in open prisons even if they warn guards they may flee. This policy was first introduced temporarily under the last government in 2023 but could become permanent. \Figures obtained by the Observer show that 143 criminals absconded from the lowest security jails in England and Wales between January 2022 and March last year, with prison sources saying more went missing over the Christmas period. According to the Telegraph, it is estimated that there are about 60 incidents of absconding from open prisons annually. Mark Fairhurst, the National chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, predicted that if these measures go ahead, 'it is inevitable that violence will rise, drug abuse will rise, absconds will rise.' He said: 'The open estate is supposed to be trusted conditions. Putting people with five years left into that world is going to destabilise it even further. It comes after the Government is reportedly looking at allowing inmates to be held in open conditions for up to five years before their release rather than the current three years. \He added: 'The majority of people accessing the open estate now would never have previously been transferred, but they've relaxed the criteria so much just to fill the space. We've got people refusing to work, people who are high on spice, people who are just walking out - we had absconds over Christmas. You can just walk out, but you can also walk back in with loads of drugs and alcohol on you because there's no searches.' In December, David Gauke, who is now leading Labour's sentencing review, claimed the current overcrowding crisis in UK prisons opened up 'opportunity' for change. He believed that thousands of convicts should be sent to low-security open prisons in a bid to reduce reoffending as well as tackle Britain's overcrowding issue. He also said Britain should follow Spain's example, where a much greater proportion of convicted criminals are free to work and study outside prison walls during the day. Speaking to the Times, the former Conservative Cabinet minister said Britain does not 'make as much use of open prisons' as it could. He visited three prisons in Spain this month where reforms have included greater use of open prisons, community sentences and house arrests
Prison Escape Open Prison Robbery Kidnap UK Crime Prison Security Absconding
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