Resident anger at Springfield mental hospital security (From Your Local Guardian)

Resident anger at Springfield mental hospital security

9:38am Monday 1st December 2008

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Security at Springfield Hospital is under fire from residents who are outraged that two patients were able to escape.

John Slavin and John Claydon are believed to have left the Shaftesbury Unit during their fresh air break via a hole cut in the fence by an outsider.

Official figures show five patients escaped from the hospital since 2005, including a convicted rapist in 2006.

Resident Tim Gilmore said: "It just seems to be regular now.

"I feel insecure because I know a local man who in there and I don’t want to see him standing in front of me one day.

"They should step up the security."

Tooting MP Sadiq Khan added: "I am appalled at the latest incident.

"There is a responsibility on Springfield not just to treat patients, but also to ensure that local residents are safe and secure."

Residents are also angry the pair were at large for 15 hours after the incident at 10pm on November 18 before the media were told.

An investigation into the escape is now taking place and the Home Secretary has been asked by Mr Khan to investigate whether such prisoners should be held at Springfield, as Claydon was awaiting trial for murder.

A spokesman from South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, which runs the Hospital, said: "The unit currently exceeds the recommended physical security guidelines for medium secure units.

"However, the Department of Health security advisor for medium secure units has visited and advised us how to further enhance our security.

"As a result additional measures are being put in place."

She said security improvements had been carried out in 2007 but this escape was different to the others because it involved outside help.

She added informing the public is based on risk assessment, and the trust does not consider a Broadmoor-style siren appropriate as the unit is only medium secure.

Springfield’s history has seen a number of high-profile incidents, including the stabbing of a retired banker in Richmond Park by one of its patients, John Barrett, in 2004.

An inquiry later found staff had not properly assessed the risk he posed to the public.

In the same year, Broadmoor patient Mark Ricketts absconded during a day trip to Springfield after he was taken outside a security zone.

In 2000 the trust was criticised in an independent report which found serious failures after patient Anthony Joseph was set free and went on to kill his social worker Jenny Morrison.

The latest incident calls into question the trust’s plans to attract occupants for the 1,200 new homes planned for hospital grounds.

A local resident and campaigner said: "How can Springfield possibly expect to develop the site for residential housing and expect people to purchase properties within the site surrounding a building which is housing seriously sick patients?"

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