Scores of violent offenders able to walk out of jail Many criminals went missing while in open prisons after serving a long period in other jails, with some allowed to leave during the day to undertake work placements or work in charity shops in an attempt to prepare them for release. Among them was rapist Ivan Leach, 47, a career criminal with convictions stretching back three decades. He went missing from North Sea Camp open prison, in Boston, Lincs. Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley, who uncovered the figures, called them shocking and appalling. "The public expect to be protected from serious offenders and the fact that so many can abscond is outrageous and unacceptable," he said. What is frightening is that we don't know how many of these committed offences while they were absconding. We don't even know whether they are still at large. Jeremy Wright, the justice minister, said: "The annual number of absconds has reduced significantly over the last several years with the number in 2011-12 being at the lowest levels since central records began. Of those prisoners who do abscond, the majority are quickly recaptured, returned to closed conditions and referred to the police for prosecution. A spokesman for the Prison Service admitted that a small number of those who abscond were never returned to jail. Þ One in four violent criminals is avoiding court as magistrates warn the use of cautions by police has "got out of hand" and is infringing upon sentencing powers that should be left to them. The Magistrates" Association wants an inquiry.