A woman convicted of murder has gone on the run during an escorted visit to the shops in south London.
Patricia Gillette, 41, from Streatham, south London, was detained indefinitely in 2007 for killing Mark Murphy, 38, at his home in Streatham in August 2006.
Gillette, who was being held at Bethlem Royal Hospital, was on a visit to shops in West Wickham High Street, Bromley, when she escaped on Friday afternoon.
Police described her as "dangerous" and warned people not to approach her.
This is the type of case which provides ammunition for the hang 'em and flog 'em brigade. Two years after being given a life sentence for murder she is allowed out on a escorted shopping trip. It beggars belief that someone who is described as dangerous was granted this liberty.
The lunatics have taken over the asylum!
Update: On the run female killer arrested
3 comments:
PUBLIC PROTECTION AND SAFETY
POLICY DEVELOPMENT & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
22nd May 2008
PRESENTATION: SECURITY AT THE BETHLEM ROYAL HOSPITAL, MONKS ORCHARD ROAD, BECKENHAM
This item was considered as a joint meeting with the Adult and Community PDS Committee.
Following concerns about security at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham, and the escape of three patients from the Denis Hill Unit in December 2007, Sam Antwi-Marful, Deputy Director, Medium Secure Services, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM), gave a presentation to the Committees. He described the range services on the hospital site, which served around 600 patients, and in particular the new 89 bed River House Medium Secure Unit, which had opened in February 2008 (the Dennis Hill Unit had now closed.)
An investigation into the escapes had identified a number of factors – failings in physical security, staff errors, a limited range of interventions and limited care pathways. River House was one of the most secure units of its kind in the country: security consultants had made 140 recommendations for improvement, of which 120 had already been implemented. Physical precautions included daily perimeter checks, internal 3.45m and external 5.2m fencing, and an airlock approach where patients had to pass through around 20 doors to leave the unit. The Trust was committed to the safety and security of patients, public and staff, and regular dialogue with local residents.
Questioned by Members, Mr Antwi-Marful confirmed that the hospital maintained links with both Bromley and Croydon Police; there was a local police liaison officer and regular meetings were held to review procedures and protocols. West Wickham Ward Councillors were now consulted by the hospital, but there were no systems in place to alert residents should patients escape, as the Trust felt that this would serve only to cause unnecessary alarm. However, it was suggested that the primary school in Monks Orchard Road should be informed if there was an escape.
Members agreed that they should continue to monitor the situation, and the Chairman thanked Sam Antwi-Marful for his presentation.
Unfortunately they forgot to note that murderers were sometimes let out to shop amongst the locals and could easily slip away....
I think the statement Nice makes is simplistic and to use the notes from the PDS committee is completely beside the point. For this lady to have leave, she would have almost certainly received clearance from the Home Office based on the application of the Consultant on the ward. People who kill while mentally ill don't necessarily get locked up for prolonged periods of time and will almost certainly get periods of leave. Using this meeting as a point of reference also misses the point of why the DHU exists primarily, that is, treatment of mentally ill offenders and their rehabilitation into the community.
That's the effect shopping in Bromley has...
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