UK's Open Prison system holds 728 sex offenders caged for rape and murder with ... trends now

UK's Open Prison system holds 728 sex offenders caged for rape and murder with ... trends now
UK's Open Prison system holds 728 sex offenders caged for rape and murder with ... trends now

UK's Open Prison system holds 728 sex offenders caged for rape and murder with ... trends now

There are currently 728 prisoners housed in the UK open prison system who are on the sex offender register for crimes including rape and murder and in the past year alone two have absconded - with one currently still at large.

In February 2022, rapist Paul Robson broke out of HMP North Sea Camp in Lincolnshire sparking a nationwide manhunt before he was found four days later in Skegness.

Just 9 months later Paul Marshall who was caged for life for raping and wounding with intent also broke out of HMP North Sea Camp- he is still wanted by police.

Over the years, many dangerous sex offenders including serial rapist Alan Wilmott and killer Darren Jackson have taken advantage of Open Prisons, also known as classification D sites, which have minimal security for inmates who are often allowed out of the compound for most of the day for work and education.

In England and Wales there are 15 open prison facilities for men and women.

There are currently 728 registered sex offenders housed in the UK's open prisons

There are currently 728 registered sex offenders housed in the UK's open prisons 

HMP North Sea Camp has seen numerous prisoners abscond over the years

HMP North Sea Camp has seen numerous prisoners abscond over the years 

The open facility which currently houses the most sex offenders is HMP Haverigg in Cumbria which counts 273 inmates on the register. 

Currently there are 12 female sex offenders housed equally in the two women only open prisons: HMP Aksham Grange and HMP East Sutton Park. 

In Wales, there are currently 11 housed in HMP Prescoed. 

MailOnline also asked the Ministry of Justice to provide a breakdown of the crimes that the inmates had committed to earn their imprisonment. 

The data showed that the most common offence was rape of a female over the age of 16 with 132 instances. 

There were also 131 instances of sexual assault of a female child under the age of 13. 

86 inmates had also been found guilty of raping a female child under 16. 

Seventeen had been locked up for obscene publications including indecent photographs of children and five had been caged for sexual grooming. 

Meanwhile, fifteen inmates in the open prison minimum security prisons had been found guilty of murder.   

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: 'Public protection is our priority and offenders held in open prisons are carefully risk assessed and face strict conditions.

'Those who breach them will be returned to open conditions. 

'Last year, the Deputy Prime Minister introduced greater scrutiny of Parole Board recommendations on open prison moves and may reject a recommendation unless prisoners can demonstrably pass a tough three-step test, including proving they are highly unlikely to abscond; that the move is essential for them to work towards future release; and the move would not undermine public confidence in the wider criminal justice system.'

Five sex offenders and murderers who absconded from UK Open Prisons   Paul Marshall

Rapist Paul Marshall is still at large after walking out of HMP North Sea Camp last year

Rapist Paul Marshall is still at large after walking out of HMP North Sea Camp last year 

In November 2022, rapist Paul Marshall escaped from HMP North Camp in Lincolnshire. 

The 53-year-old was jailed for life after being found guilty of rape and wounding with intent but was placed in the category D open prison before absconding last year. 

Despite police appeals and being caught on CCTV in Doncaster, Marshall has still not been located and Lincolnshire Police now accept he could be anywhere. 

Speaking to the Lincolnite in January, Boston MP Matt Warman said that the fact Marshall had escaped was a failure of the system. 

He said: 'The whole point about this system is it only works if people who are given that degree of trust that comes with being in an open prison, respect it, and clearly the last few very public cases that we've had

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