The Escape of Debtors, etc. Act 1696 (8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 27) or the Escape from Prison Act 1697 was an act of the Parliament of England, the long title of which is An Act For the more effectual relief of creditors in cases of escapes, and for preventing abuses in prisons and pretended privileged places.

Several locations in London, mainly liberties and extra-parochial areas, had become notorious as hideaways for debtors escaping imprisonment. Those named in the act were Whitefriars, the Savoy, Salisbury Court, Ram Alley, Mitre Court, Fulwood’s Rents [or Fuller's Rents], Baldwins Gardens, "Mountague Close or the Minories", the Mint, and "Clink or Deadmans Place". The privileges and immunities of these places were suspended so that the debtors could be pursued.

Subsequent developments The Mint was a particularly well-known bolt hole and despite the act, remained so until the reign of George I, when a further act, The Mint in Southwark Act 1722 (9 Geo. 1 .c. 28)[ Ruffhead 1786 pp.331–333] was passed. Two years later a similar act, the Shelterers in Wapping, Stepney, etc. Act 1724 (11 Geo. 1. c. 22)[ Ruffhead 1786 pp.379–380] applied to "the hamlet of Wapping-Stepney".

Those two acts, as well as sections 1, 3, 5, 10–15 and 18 to the end of the act were repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 116), which came into force on 21 August 1871.

Section 2 and section 17 from beginning to "provided nevertheless." of the act were repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. c. 59), which came into force on 16 September 1887.

Section 17 of the act was repealed by section 2 of, and the schedule to, the Public Authorities Protection Act 1893 (56 & 57 Vict. c. 61), which came into force on 1 January 1894.

The whole act, so far as unrepealed, was repealed by section 1 of, and the first schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 62), which came into force on 30 July 1948.

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links