To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders who have absconded from prisons remain at large; and if he will make a statement.

As of 8 February 2013, 85 prisoners of the 3,706 prisoners who absconded from prison between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2012 remain unlawfully at large.

Absconds have been falling for nearly two decades. In 2011-12—the last full year when figures were available—there were just 179 absconds compared with 956 in 1995-96, which equates to a 81% reduction.

The majority of prisoners are recaptured and returned to custody quickly, 92% are recaptured within six months. To date, over 97% of prisoners who absconded between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2012 have been re-captured and returned to custody. On re-capture the prisoner will be returned to a closed prison and referred to the police for consideration for prosecution for having been unlawfully at large.