WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1975
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SECURITY IN OLD POLICE STATIONS BEING REVIEWED
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POLICE ARE CONDUCTING A FULL DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY INTO THE ESCAPE OF A ROBBERY SUSPECT FROM CENTRAL POLICE STATION ON MAY 11.
THE ENQUIRY IS BEING CONDUCTED BY A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. L.M. DAVIES, TOLD COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. J.M. BREMRIDGE.
THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAD ALSO ORDERED A REVIEW OF THE STATE OF SECURITY AND MAINTENANCE IN ALL OLD POLICE STATIONS, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON CELL BLOCKS, AND HAD POSTED. A $10,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE RECAPTURE OF THE PRISONER.
HE RECALLED THAT THE ROBBERY SUSPECT HAD TWICE BEFORE ESCAPED FROM CUSTODY - ONCE FROM VICTORIA REMAND CENTRE AND ONCE FROM AN OPEN WARD AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.
THE PRISONER WAS RECAPTURED ON MAY 8 AND THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS CHARGED WITH ESCAPING FROM LEGAL CUSTODY, AND WAS REMANDED FOR THREE DAYS.
ON MAY 11, THE PRISONER WAS STILL PRESENT IN HIS CELL BLOCK OF CENTRAL POLICE STATION AT 7.45 AM BUT WAS FOUND TO BE MISSING AT 7,52 AM WHEN THE GUARD CONDUCTED HIS SECOND CHECK.
THE GUARD RAISED THE ALARM BUT DESPITE AN IMMEDIATE SEARCH THE PRISONER COULD NOT BE LOCATED.
AS FAR AS REVEALED BY CURRENT ENQUIRIES, THE PRISONER - WHO IS LITHE AND SLIGHTLY BUILT - HAD EFFECTED HIS ESCAPE BY LEVERING OUT AND BENDING A BAR IN HIS CELL AND THEN PUSHED OUT THE WIRE MESH COVERING THE WINDOWS UNTIL THERE WAS SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR HIM TO SQUEEZE THROUGH.
HE THEN SCRAMBLED ACROSS THE ROOF, ENTERED A DESERTED UPSTAIRS BARRACK ROOM WHERE HE PUT ON ARTICLES OF POLICE UNIFORM LEFT THERE BY OFF DUTY POLICE PERSONNEL BEFORE LEAVING THE CENTRAL POLICE STATION, PROBABLY VIA A SIDE STAIRCASE AND GATE.
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