Prisons chief doesn't know how many inmates on run

THE head of the Prison Service admitted he did not know how many inmates were on the run from open prisons, it was reported today.

Director general Phil Wheatley said there was no system to count the number of prisoners who absconded from such jails.

The BBC report comes a day after Derbyshire Police finally agreed to release photographs of two convicted murderers who are on the run after escaping from Sudbury Open Prison in Derbyshire.

The force had originally claimed releasing the pictures could breach their human rights. Mr Wheatley estimated almost 700 offenders absconded in the year to last April from England's 15 open prisons.

Classed as Category D, open prisons have a more relaxed security regime.

Mr Wheatley told the BBC the Prison Service did not have an accurate system for those who were recaptured.

He said he was "embarrassed" to admit he was unable to provide figures.