The number of prisoners who have absconded from HMP North Sea Camp is at a five-year high, figures show.
A total of 28 went on the run from the category-D open prison in 2012-13.
This was an increase of four on the previous year, and the highest since 2007-08 when 46 inmates made off from the prison, according to figures in the prison performance digest.
Despite these figures, the prison service has said that staff at HMP North Sea Camp do all they can to identify prisoners at risk of absconding.
A prison service spokesman said: "Absconds are 13 per cent lower under this Government, and in 2012-13 were at the second lowest level ever recorded for open prisons.
"However, we're not complacent – that's why staff at North Sea Camp are working hard to identify those prisoners at risk of absconding – in some cases proactively moving them to closed conditions if necessary.
"All those located in open conditions are rigorously risk assessed and categorised as being of low risk to the public. Any that abscond are immediately returned to closed conditions and can face police action."
An open prison is one where prisoners are trusted to serve their sentences with minimal supervision and perimeter security and so do not need to be locked up in prison cells.
The five-year high figure comes on the back of the latest absconder from HMP North Sea Camp.
Convicted burglar Terry Marshall left the prison with a fellow inmate shortly before 9am on August 22.
The other prisoner was swiftly caught and arrested, but Marshall, 32, originally from Nottinghamshire, managed to get away.
