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Open prison escape review calls Open prison escape review calls
(about 7 hours later)
Opposition politicians have demanded a review of an open prison near Dundee after the escape of another inmate.Opposition politicians have demanded a review of an open prison near Dundee after the escape of another inmate.
Tayside Police recently issued a warrant for the arrest of Terence Hutton, who absconded from Castle Huntly five months ago.Tayside Police recently issued a warrant for the arrest of Terence Hutton, who absconded from Castle Huntly five months ago.
It is the latest in a series of prison breaks from the institution, which has been likened to a "holiday camp". A total of 44 prisoners have absconded from Castle Huntly in the past 12 months, according to official figures. It is the latest in a series of prison breaks from the institution, which has been likened to a "holiday camp".
A total of 44 prisoners have absconded from Castle Huntly in the past 12 months, according to official figures.
The statistics for April 2006-07 were published by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).The statistics for April 2006-07 were published by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS).
I know that it is called an 'open prison', but I didn't think that the prisoners would be able to take the term quite so literally Bill AitkenConservative MSP
Bill Aitken, Tory MSP, said this latest case raised a number of questions about how the jail was being operated.Bill Aitken, Tory MSP, said this latest case raised a number of questions about how the jail was being operated.
They included the time it took for the escape to be made public, and the number of other prisoners on the run.They included the time it took for the escape to be made public, and the number of other prisoners on the run.
He also wanted to know why Hutton had been transferred to the open prison just a year after being convicted of a serious assault.He also wanted to know why Hutton had been transferred to the open prison just a year after being convicted of a serious assault.
The Conservative MSP said: "I know that it is called an 'open prison', but I didn't think that the prisoners would be able to take the term quite so literally.The Conservative MSP said: "I know that it is called an 'open prison', but I didn't think that the prisoners would be able to take the term quite so literally.
"Castle Huntly is in danger of living up to the tag of being little more of a holiday camp, where prisoners can stroll out at will, stay out on a whim.""Castle Huntly is in danger of living up to the tag of being little more of a holiday camp, where prisoners can stroll out at will, stay out on a whim."
Thorough review
He added: "Scotland's penal system has suffered severely after 8 years of Labour/Lib Dem mismanagement, and the SNP government seems just as disinterested in making our prisons secure, drug free and with enough capacity to house those who should be there.He added: "Scotland's penal system has suffered severely after 8 years of Labour/Lib Dem mismanagement, and the SNP government seems just as disinterested in making our prisons secure, drug free and with enough capacity to house those who should be there.
"It's time for a thorough review of Castle Huntly to ensure that it is fit for purpose, and that prisoners sent there are fit to be there.""It's time for a thorough review of Castle Huntly to ensure that it is fit for purpose, and that prisoners sent there are fit to be there."
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said it was "regrettable that a minority of prisoners abuse the very valuable opportunities that open prisons offer in helping prisoners to prepare for release".A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said it was "regrettable that a minority of prisoners abuse the very valuable opportunities that open prisons offer in helping prisoners to prepare for release".
In the last 12 months, 44 prisoners absconded from Castle Huntly
He added: "All prisoners who access the open estate have previously undergone a rigorous risk assessment process which considers amongst other factors sentence length, previous offending history, and measures taken by the individual whilst in custody to address the factors that contributed to their offending.He added: "All prisoners who access the open estate have previously undergone a rigorous risk assessment process which considers amongst other factors sentence length, previous offending history, and measures taken by the individual whilst in custody to address the factors that contributed to their offending.
"Further risk assessments and on-going dynamic risk assessments ensure that as far as is possible, the right prisoners access these valuable opportunities."Further risk assessments and on-going dynamic risk assessments ensure that as far as is possible, the right prisoners access these valuable opportunities.
"This is borne out of the fact that 95% of the prisoners do not abscond from the open estate and while we are not complacent, the number of absconds should be seen in the context of the many thousands of opportunities in which prisoners successfully participate in.""This is borne out of the fact that 95% of the prisoners do not abscond from the open estate and while we are not complacent, the number of absconds should be seen in the context of the many thousands of opportunities in which prisoners successfully participate in."
A Scottish Government spokesman said it was "delivering on its promises to give Scotland the prison system it needs".A Scottish Government spokesman said it was "delivering on its promises to give Scotland the prison system it needs".
He added: "We have committed the much-needed investment our prisons have been crying out for to deliver secure places for the 21st Century.He added: "We have committed the much-needed investment our prisons have been crying out for to deliver secure places for the 21st Century.
"Prisons run for public protection not for private profit. Well-run open prisons have to be an integral part of that system.""Prisons run for public protection not for private profit. Well-run open prisons have to be an integral part of that system."