Cotswold MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has reacted angrily to Friday’s Home Office announcement that hundreds of prisoners have been allowed to escape from Leyhill Open Prison, near Wotton-Under-Edge.

Clifton-Brown condemns Home Office for “losing” prisoners..

Mr Clifton-Brown said that: “This government has shown a careless and dangerous disregard for the safety of the people of Gloucestershire. Mismanagement and a troubling laissez faire attitude toward our safety has resulted in convicted murderers and rapists walking the streets of our towns and villages.”

Last week, Home Office Minister Gerry Sutcliffe announced that 393 prisoners have escaped from Leyhill open prison near Wotton-Under-Edge since 1999. This figure includes 22 murderers, seven rapists, 125 burglars and 24 drug dealers.

Mr Clifton-Brown added: “The implication of this announcement is that every week, another prisoner walks out of the prison unchallenged, and we have no reason to believe that this week will be any different. I am staggered that this is being allowed to happen. Something must be done to safeguard our communities before one of these criminals does some real harm, and the responsibility lies squarely with Home Office Ministers. Action must be swift”