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The relationship between building design and escapes from secure units.
1Shaftesbury Clinic, Springfield Hospital, London.
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
|October 13, 1999
Summary
Patient escapes from forensic psychiatry Medium Secure Units (MSUs) in Great Britain are low but rising with increased bed capacity. Escape methods often involve perimeter fences, roofs, and windows, highlighting building design implications.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Criminology
- Architecture
Background:
- Medium Secure Units (MSUs) are critical in forensic psychiatry care.
- Understanding patient escape dynamics is vital for security and treatment.
- Recent trends indicate a rise in escapes correlating with increased bed capacity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey escapes from all Great Britain MSUs over 42 months.
- To analyze the relationship between MSU building design and patient escape methods.
- To identify common escape routes and provide design recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Survey of all identified forensic psychiatry MSUs in Great Britain.
- Analysis of patient escape data over a 42-month period.
- Correlation study between building design elements and escape incidents.
Main Results:
- Overall patient escape numbers from MSUs are low (average 3.14 per unit over 42 months).
- A higher percentage increase in escapes was observed alongside increased bed numbers.
- Most escapes occurred via perimeter fences, roofs, and windows.
Conclusions:
- While escapes are infrequent, the rising trend necessitates attention.
- Building design features, particularly perimeters, roofs, and windows, are significant factors in escape methods.
- Recommendations for future MSU designs should prioritize mitigating these identified escape vulnerabilities.