Escape blamed on 'cost-cutting'

The Prison Officers' Association called for review of security procedures after the escape of James Hurley, who was serving life for killing a policeman.

Hurley, 32, escaped while being taken by private hire coach to Wandsworth jail, south London. The POA said the escape was 'directly related to obsessive cost-cutting by the Prison Service forced to take part in rigged competitions with the private sector'. Derek Lewis, director of the Prison Service, said current arrangements were satisfactory.