Police have refused to release photographs of two escaped murderers, claiming it might breach their human rights.
Killers Jason Croft and Michael Nixon, are among 13 inmates to have escaped from Sudbury open jail, in Derbyshire in the past two months.
Despite the fact that only two have been caught - and the killers are still on the loose. Derbyshire police said that the public do not have a right to know what the convicts look like.
A spokesman for Derbyshire police, said. ' When making a decision to release any photograph, police forces must take into account numerous factors, including the public interest test, whether there is a strong local policing purpose and, of course, the Human Rights and Data Protection Acts'.
' Photographs of named people that are in police possession, are classed as 'DATA', and their release is restricted by law'.
'ACPO' (Asssociation Of Chief Police Oficers) guidance states that, releasing a 'wanted' photograph of a named person, should only happen in exceptional circumstances, where officers believe that the named suspect may be a danger to the public'.
Croft, 28, has been missing since October 31, while Nixon, also 28, has not been seen since he failed to appear at role call on November 2nd. Both are originally from Manchester.
' Unfortunately, once people abscond, it's up to us to trace their whereabouts', the spokesman added.
' The very nature of open prisons, is that those people are out and about anyway, on placements and some abuse the trust that we have placed in them. We are left to mop it up'.
More than 660 inmates have gone missing from Sudbury in the past ten years and officials were criticised last year for spending £25,000 on a champagne party for staff as a reward for 'high performance'.
Huh! Excuse my ignorance, but is this sounding familiar.
All comments please, in an unpaid envelope to The Home Secretary.
