Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore praises reduced prison absconder numbers. although one absconder from Hollesley Bay, near Woodbridge, has been at large since 2018

An escapee from a Suffolk prison has been at large for more than five years, at the same time a reduction in absconders is hailed as ‘good news’ for the county.

Figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request by SuffolkNews showed 52 prisoners absconded from Hollesley Bay, near Woodbridge, between January 2018 and March 2024.

Of these, six were still at large as of April this year, including two who escaped in 2022, two from 2021, one from 2020 and one from 2018.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s police and crime commissioner, said there had been a significant reduction in escapes, with only two so far in 2024 and six in 2023 – which he hailed as good news for the county.

He attributed this to the hard work of prison teams.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said absconsion, described as an escape without overcoming physical security restraints such as fences, locks, vehicles or direct supervision, was only possible for open prisons such as Hollesley Bay.

However, they said rule-breakers faced ‘tough consequences’ if caught, including being moved to closed conditions or extra jail time.

The data, valid as of April 30, showed one prisoner remained missing for 2,022 days – meaning they went missing on October 17, 2018.

The two people who escaped from Hollesley Bay in 2024 (data valid from January to March) were caught quickly, with the longest time one was at large being three days.

Similarly, all six escapees from 2023 were also accounted for, with one being at large for 258 days.

For 2022, of the four absconders reported two remained at large after 699 days as of April this year.

In 2021 12 prisoners went missing, with 10 re-arrested. However, two remained at large in April after 1,115 days.

Of the 15 escapees in 2020, one remained at large after 1,290 days – meaning they went missing on October 18, 2020.

In 2019, six prisoners went missing, all of whom were caught, with the longest time one spent away was 271 days.

Finally, in 2018, seven escapes were reported, with six accounted for.

Mr Passmore said: “There has been a very significant reduction in the numbers of absconders from Hollesley Bay in the last few years, which is undoubtedly very good news for Suffolk.

“The data for this year is especially encouraging, with numbers for the first quarter in single figures.”

Mr Passmore stressed that the force always responded to these incidents very quickly, particularly if there was a potential risk to public safety.

The majority of inmates were found soon after absconding, he said

Mr Passmore added: “We need to be realistic that in open prisons such as Hollesley Bay it is not possible to guarantee there will not be any inmates who go missing.

“That said, I think the improvement in the statistics is a tribute to the prison authorities and all the staff who do so much to help keep our county safe in what must be difficult circumstances.”