Lawmen curb jail escapes in Scotland

May 4 2008 By Gordon Currie

Lawmen Curb Jail Escapes Exclusive

A CRACKDOWN on runaway convicts has slashed the number of escapes from Scotland's open prisons.

Fed-up sheriffs demanded powers to hand heavier sentences to inmates who walk out of Castle Huntly, near Dundee, and Noranside, Angus.

The maximum punishment for absconding was quadrupled to 12months after the lawmen complained that three-month stretches had no effect.

Since the change in December the number of fugitives on the run has almost halved.

Convicts typically serve only half of their sentence and with a one-third discount for pleading guilty, they had been serving only another four weeks in jail.

The law was changed after complaints from Sheriff Lindsay Foulis and colleagues at Perth, who deal with most prisoners on the run from open jails.

He said: "The previous position of three months, down to two for an early plea, just wasn't worth a candle. The sentencing powers available prior to December 10 last year were considered to be inadequate."

Between December 2006 and May last year, 35 prisoners walked out of Castle Huntly and Noranside. Over the same period to May this year, that fell to 19.

Sheriff Foulis said: "Because of the prevalence of persons walking out from Castle Huntly, the sentence was undoubtedly going to rise. Since December 10, sentences have undoubtedly risen. "

Castle Huntly inmate Robert Foye raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl after fleeing last year.

He had failed to return to jail after an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill ordered a review of open prison releases in January after the Foye case.

MacAskill said: "This is a welcome drop in the number of people on the run. Further improvements are being taken forward by the Scottish Prison Service urgently."

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