Call over open jail use for inmates

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It has sent ministers a dossier of 18 offenders, including men guilty of robbery, GBH and domestic violence, it says were wrongly transferred this month alone.

The Tories accused the Government of showing "a complete disregard for the public's safety" by using open prisons to ease overcrowding in higher-security prisons.

The then Home Secretary John Reid announced in October last year that "maximum flexibility" would be exercised in transfers to open prisons in a bid to battle overcrowding.

Since then police have been forced to issue a series of warnings about dangerous criminals, including murderers, on the run from such institutions.

Killer Raymond Alvin Kennedy, serving an indeterminate sentence for kicking and beating a vagrant to death in 1991, was recaptured on Christmas Eve after three months on the run.

And two convicted robbers and a man jailed for causing death by dangerous driving disappeared from Prescoed prison in Monmouthshire, south Wales, earlier this month.

Napo assistant general secretary Harry Fletcher said: "We have had open prisons for decades. They are an excellent idea, they assist with rehabilitation, but they must be used appropriately.

"If staff are warning that individuals with a high risk of harm to the community are being referred their concerns must be listened to. It is essential that open jails are used for prisoners who have been properly assessed as non-dangerous, are near the end of their sentence and who will benefit from resettlement regimes.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said insisted proper checks were carried out.