Dartmoor Prison

 No Escape

The Hound of the Baskervilles

You may question, why put the hardest criminals in the UK in an open prison, where they are free to escape?

The answer lies in the film The Hound of the Baskervilles; I doubt anyone has not seen the film, or a tv version of the movie, and many may have read the book.

At the end of the story, Dr. Watson almost gets swallowed by the mire; only people who know the area cross it with ease.

Dartmoor Prison is set in the most desolate area of the UK, while it has rugged beauty, the scenery is both rugged, and deadly. The nearest village is Launceston, 25 miles away. While that is no disgtance in a motor vehicle, it would take yo more than a day to walk it, all the time thinking, "they can catch me in minutes." What better deterent do you need?

There has been only one escape from the prison, in the early 60's Ronnie Kray spung Frank Mitchell. His brother Reggie Kray was against the idea from the start. Mitchell's problem was he had a haor trigger temprement, and was as dangerous to his friends as his enemies, Ronnie was reported as saying, "the biggest mistake I made was springing Frank Mitchell." Mitchell was killed a few years after the escape at the behest of the Krays, as he was becoming a risk, and drawing attention to them.