News story

16th March 2004

Prisoners Removed from Open Conditions After Local MP's Intervention

* Click here to see how this story was reported in the Daily Telegraph (you may have to register with their website to read this article)

In a dramatic move, the Home Office has recalled prisoners from “open” conditions because of concerns about the risk that they might abscond. The revelation comes in a letter from the Prisons Minister Paul Goggins, to Northavon MP Steve Webb, following the MP’s debate in the House of Commons earlier this year on the subject of open prisons. The Minister’s letter begins by setting out the results of an inquiry into how Roddy McLean, initially sentenced to 27 years in prison for serious drugs-related offences, came to be at Leyhill open prison, from which he subsequently absconded.

The investigation revealed a series of blunders in the prison system, including “..the almost total lack of any detailed documentary description of the offences for which he was convicted and sentenced”. The Minister’s letter goes on to admit that “..sight was
lost of the quantity and potential monetary value of the drugs he was trying to smuggle into the country” and that English prison staff were unfamiliar with the nature of the offence of which he was convicted under Scottish law.

In response to this investigation a number of changes have been made. In particular, the Minister writes, “The Prison Service has looked closely at those prisoners in open conditions with the longest period of time left to serve and has recategorised a number of prisoners to Category C, although there is no suggestion that any of these prisoners presented a risk to the public”.

Commenting on the report, Steve Webb said:

“I am glad that the circumstances which led Roddy McLean to be in an open prison have been fully investigated and lessons are being learned. I firmly believe that open prisons have an important part to play in the prison system in preparing people who have been properly risk-assessed for their eventual release.

But for the people who work at Leyhill and the people who live in the local community, it is vital that proper screening is undertaken before people are placed in open conditions, and that clearly did not happen properly in this case. The Home Office is to be praised for looking again at some prisoners who were in open conditions and increasing their security status”.

Notes to editors:

Roddy McLean was found dead of natural causes at a London address earlier this year.

Click here to read the text of Steve's adjournment debate on open prisons.