Police are urgently searching for a prisoner who fled a Buckinghamshire jail on Christmas Day and remains at large. Mahad Elmi, aged 27, absconded from HMP Spring Hill, an open prison with minimal security, overnight between Thursday and Boxing Day.
Details of the Christmas Day Escape
The escape occurred at HMP Spring Hill, a Category D facility located near the village of Grendon Underwood. The prison, which houses more than 300 inmates, is designed with minimal security and allows eligible prisoners to spend time in the community for work or education under licence.
Thames Valley Police confirmed that Elmi left the prison and failed to return. The force has stated he "no longer has any authority or lawful licence to be in the community and is therefore considered unlawfully at large."
Public Warning and Description
Detective Sergeant Matthew French, from the Buckinghamshire Priority Crime Team, has issued a direct appeal to the public. "We are appealing for the help of the public to trace Mahad Elmi," he said. "If you see Elmi, do not approach him and call 999 instead."
Elmi is described as:
- A black man, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall.
- Of medium build with medium-length black hair.
- He has a beard and brown eyes.
Authorities have noted that he is known to have connections to the southwest London area, which may be a focus of the search operation.
Nature of the Prison and Ongoing Manhunt
The incident highlights the nature of Category D 'open' prisons, which are intended to prepare prisoners for release by granting them greater trust and freedom. The escape from such a facility on a major holiday has triggered a significant police response.
The manhunt, now entering a critical phase, involves Thames Valley Police coordinating efforts to locate Elmi. The public are being treated as vital eyes and ears for the operation, with a clear instruction to contact emergency services rather than intervene.
