The Home Office has admitted that over 600 criminals have walked free from Kent's Open Prison, Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey since 1995 and since the beginning of April 2006 a total of 32 prisoners have absconded.

"The prison service is currently developing a mechanism for collating recapture data. At the moment the only way of providing this information is for every prison to interrogate records... This could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost." Said Gerry Sutcliffe the Parliamentary Under-Secretary.

So although they know that they have lost around 606 criminals since 1995 they have no way of finding out if those criminals were ever recaptured.

As for the prisoners that escaped from Standford Hill prior to April 1995 there are no records available.

When faced with figures (or the total absence of them) such as these is it any wonder that the Police Force of Thanet (not known for even approaching excellence) can not keep up with the criminals?

Word on the vine, as it were, suggests that criminals come to Thanet just to commit crime because it is so easy to get away with it.

What, if anything, are the people we (apparently) elected to look after us doing to keep us safe?

With regard the prison system MP, Rogar Gale said "The phrase 'not fit for purpose' springs to mind again!" but to be honest I think it applies to pretty much the entire Island.

Full Story and further Sources, Official Hansard source.

Tagged: thanet and crime.