The hospital, which treats people convicted of a range of crimes including murder and sex offences, hit the headlines last month when it was revealed that David Morgan, given 10 life sentences for stabbing 17 women in a Birmingham department store, was allowed unaccompanied shopping trips in Stafford.

And the following week, potentially dangerous patient Michael Mayo went on the run after escaping while on an escorted walk through the grounds, sparking a manhunt which led to his arrest six days later.

Police said without medication and ongoing treatment Mayo could have posed a risk to the public or a danger to himself and warned he should not be approached.

Many Stafford residents said they were worried about security at the hospital and did not feel safe with patients such as Morgan able to walk the streets alone.

Nine of the patients at the hospital, in Corporation Street, are currently allowed unescorted trips into town, while a further nine are allowed unescorted leave within the grounds.

Inside the buildings, doors are secured by air locks, while the unit has a secure, alarmed perimeter.

Information obtained by The Express & Star under the Freedom of Information Act also reveals there were 21 assaults by patients on staff last year, a figure reasonably consistent with previous years.

Attacks on staff mainly take the form of punches and kicks and have not involved the use of weapons. Staff have not taken time off sick as a result of assaults.

Amanda Godfrey, spokesman for South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “The Hatherton Centre does not take people judged to be of grave and immediate danger.

“Strict conditions are imposed on unescorted leave and before that is allowed, the clinical team and other escorted agencies, including the Home Office where appropriate, need to be confident all risks have been secured and managed and there is no immediate risk to the public.”

She said that while it is common for the hospital to receive patients transferred from prisons, the unit is not aware of any offences committed by those who have absconded.

* The number of abscondments recorded includes three people who returned late from leave.

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