KELLY EDNEY'S ESCAPE FROM TAUNTON PRISON: A FAILURE OF SECURITY AT DERRIFORD HOSPITAL AND BEYOND

In a disturbing series of events that exposed significant flaws within the prison and security systems, Kelly Edney, a violent offender from Taunton, managed to escape custody under circumstances that have raised serious concerns about safety protocols and oversight. The incident, which occurred in November 2006, involved Edney being transported from Dartmoor Prison to Derriford Hospital for treatment of a self-inflicted injury. Despite the presence of restraints, Edney, still attached to a drip needle, managed to slip free from his handcuffs and escape through a toilet hatch, an escape route that was known to pose security risks.

Following his escape, Edney proceeded to a nearby car park where he assaulted a woman by punching her in the face and then stole her vehicle. His reckless actions did not end there; he was eventually apprehended on the A38 after police deployed a stinger device to stop his fleeing vehicle. The series of lapses that facilitated his escape has now come under scrutiny, revealing a pattern of negligence and overlooked security risks within the prison system.

The Prison Service conducted an internal investigation, led by Jeannine Hendrick, the Governor of HMP Channings Wood. However, initially, the findings were kept from public view, with the prison authorities declining to release the report. Under pressure from The Herald, the authorities eventually disclosed a heavily edited version of the investigation, which nonetheless shed light on critical failures.

One of the key issues identified was the improper application of Edney’s escort chain ratchet cuffs. The report stated that if the cuffs had been correctly applied, Edney would not have been able to remove them, thus preventing his escape. Additionally, the investigation highlighted that the toilet used by Edney presented two significant security risks. A document dated November 3, 2003, was uncovered during the investigation, which pointed out that the toilets at Derriford Hospital contained hatches that could be exploited for escape. Unfortunately, this vital information was never communicated to Edney’s escort guards, leaving them unaware of the potential danger.

Historical records reveal that Edney’s escape was not an isolated incident. In November 1999, another prisoner from Dartmoor managed to escape from Derriford Hospital by climbing through a toilet window, further emphasizing the vulnerabilities associated with such escape routes. The recent investigation found that the toilet Edney chose had a hatch, and although one officer had noticed the access point, they failed to inform their colleague. Ironically, the adjacent toilet cubicles did not have such escape routes, which could have been a mitigating factor if the information had been properly shared.

The report criticized the negligence of the officers involved, noting that a cursory risk assessment was conducted when Edney was first placed in the toilet, but critical security risks were not communicated between staff. The failure to properly manage these risks, combined with the incorrect application of restraints, created an environment where Edney could exploit the weaknesses and escape. The report also pointed out that Edney’s self-harm incident, which involved inserting a piece of trouser zip metal into his private parts, led to a rushed and incomplete risk assessment for his transfer to Derriford Hospital. This assessment failed to include vital information about Edney’s history of escape attempts.

Further findings revealed that in September 2006, Edney, then on license from a high-risk bail hostel in northern England, cut off his electronic tag and fled to Taunton—the town where he had previously committed a violent rape of a 16-year-old girl in 1998. The investigation also uncovered that a prison officer responsible for Edney’s risk assessment at Dartmoor was negligent, failing to complete essential checklists and lacking personal knowledge of Derriford Hospital, which hampered proper briefing of the escort team.

Alarming lapses were also identified in the handling of Edney’s transfer. Two prison officers took him into the hospital grounds for a cigarette, breaching protocol, and a separate transfer restraint, known as a 'D cuff,' should have been used when moving Edney’s chain cuffs from one officer to another. These procedural failures could have provided additional opportunities for Edney to escape.

In response to these findings, investigators recommended disciplinary action against the officers involved for failing to follow established procedures. They also called for a comprehensive review of prison protocols, especially concerning known security risks such as toilet hatches, and emphasized the need for staff training on restraint transfer procedures. The case has prompted criticism from political figures, including Alison Seabeck, MP for Devonport, who condemned the prison service’s previous lax attitude and called for greater transparency.

Seabeck praised The Herald’s persistence in obtaining the report, which finally revealed the extent of the failures. She argued that the public has a right to know what went wrong and that such information is vital to restoring confidence in the prison system’s ability to protect the community. She emphasized that the flaws in the process, including the failure to act on known risks like toilet hatches, should have been addressed proactively. Seabeck expressed concern that Edney’s injuries, sustained with the apparent intent of being taken to hospital, should have triggered more rigorous safety measures from the outset.

Kelly Edney was subsequently sentenced in February 2007 to three and a half years in prison. His sentence was later reduced by a year due to confusion over the expiration date of his previous sentence for a bomb hoax conviction. Edney, who also has convictions for theft, assault, burglary, and violence, was released on license in August 2008. His history of violent crimes and repeated escape attempts underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the prison system in managing high-risk offenders and preventing further incidents of this nature.