Police have issued an urgent appeal to help trace a prisoner who has absconded and is currently missing. Ashley Young, 32, was reported missing from HMP Hollesley Bay in Suffolk on Tuesday evening (October 13) after being absent at a roll call.
Description and connections
Young has connections to Kent, according to Suffolk Police. He is described as white, approximately 5ft 10ins, of medium build, with blue eyes and a beard. The force has released an image of Young and is urging the public to help trace him.
A spokesperson for Suffolk Police said: "Anyone who sees Young is asked to call 999 immediately, quoting CAD 294 of 13 October. Anyone who has any other information is asked to contact Suffolk police on 101."
Rise in absconds
Over the past year, the number of escapees and absconders from UK prisons has increased by over a third. According to the Ministry of Justice, in the year ending March 2026, there were 78 absconds, a 37% increase compared with the previous 12-month period.
Of the 78 who absconded, 38% (30 prisoners) remained at large for over 30 days. In the same period there were also 925 temporary release failures, of which 51 were failures to return, and 12 of these were still at large after 30 days.
Definition of absconding
Absconding from prison means leaving custody secretly and without permission, often from lower-security or open prison conditions. It usually refers to a prisoner leaving the prison without overcoming major physical security restraints like fences or bars.
