Prisoners who have made active attempts to escape from custody are placed on the holding prison's Escape List.

Five months later, on 3 October 1961, Hayes removed Blake from the escape list, allowing him a more normal life although some minor restrictions still applied.

Although he was a first offender and there was no suggestion he might try to escape, because of the nature of his offence the governor, Thomas Hayes, decided that Blake should be placed on the escape list.'

At night a light had to be on all the time and Blake's prison clothes had to be placed outside his cell while, during the day, the clothes he wore had distinctive patches of coloured cloth on them to show that he was on the escape list.