Another Foreign Criminal on the Run
Ola Abimbola, a Nigerian national, allegedly escaped from the open prison HMP Ford on October 10 and has not been seen since. He is serving a 21-year sentence for kidnap, grievous bodily harm (GBH), and possession of an offensive weapon in public. Sussex Police are working with partners to locate him.
Other Recent Prison Escapes
- Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, remains at large after being mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth on October 29.
- William "Billy" Smith, 35, also wrongly freed from Wandsworth, returned voluntarily to the jail on the following Thursday.
Concerns About Open Prison Security
"There has been a 'sudden' rise in absconders from open prisons in recent years, presenting an 'increased risk to the public,'" said Mark Drury of the Prison Governors' Association.
"Due to attempts to tackle prison overcrowding, there are now many prisoners in open prisons who would not have been considered suitable two or three years ago."
Summary
Escapes from open prisons are rising, partly because overcrowding forces authorities to hold higher-risk prisoners there, increasing public safety concerns.
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