THE Prison Service has been criticised by the Prison Officers Association (POA) after a convicted killer was allowed to abscond from HMP Sudbury.
Ashley Squires, 27, failed to return to the open prison near Ashbourne last week — the latest in a long line of escapees in recent years, including several convicted of murder, manslaughter and other serious crimes.
The Leicester-born inmate had been let out on a temporary licence, but was not present when the roll call took place on Saturday, August 21.
Squires was serving a 12-year sentence he received in 2006 for manslaughter after he ran over and killed a 61-year-old farmer as he stole his Land Rover.
Critics say inmates who are unsuitable for open prison conditions are being moved to a lower security classification simply due to overcrowding and political pressure — despite repeated, standard form responses from the Prison Service that all prisoners are ‘thoroughly risk assessed’.
POA general secretary Steve Gillan said: “The pressure on the Prison Service to fill open prison places is immense.
“Sudbury over the last two or three years has had a high record of absconds.
“Staff at Sudbury have constantly raised concerns about too many inappropriate prisoners being forced through the system before they are due to go over.”
The incident is the latest in a series of high-profile absconders in recent years, including Richard Cartwright and David Patmore, who escaped in similar circumstances to Squires.
Temporary licensing is in place to help prepare prisoners for their release from custody after serving long sentences, in an attempt to reduce the chance of them reoffending.
A statement from the Prison Service said: “Prisoners may be released on temporary licence providing they meet strict criteria and pass a rigorous risk assessment.
“Only those assessed as representing minimal risk of escape or risk of harm to the public are eligible.
“Life and indeterminate sentenced prisoners can only be allocated to open conditions by the Justice Secretary on the recommendation of the Parole Board.
“If prisoners breach their licence in any way, they will be subject to disciplinary proceedings and are likely to be moved to closed conditions.”
