A total of 709 prisoners who escaped before completing their sentences remain at large, according to a National Audit Office report.The report found that 1,181 inmates escaped from prisons or prison custody over the past six years, with only 472 subsequently re-arrested.It also revealed that 5,083 mobile phones, 4,149 SIM cards and 2,432 batteries were seized from 22 prisons in 2025.The Audit Office warned that escaped prisoners and the availability of mobile phones inside prisons could pose risks to public security.