The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dr Andrew McLellan says in his latest report that fewer people are going on the run from open prisons in Scotland, but there are stills faults in the system.

It is the first since sex attacker Robert Foye raped a teenager after absconding from Castle Huntly near Dundee.  

Castle Huntly, near Dundee, has been called the Cushiest Prison in Scotland.

It and Noranside near Forfar make up the Open Prison Estate, where this time last year, 66 people had been recorded going on the run in the previous 12 months.

Among them was Robert Foye, who was allowed out to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He did not come back, and raped a teenager.

Today, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dr Andrew McLellan said the rate of absconding in the open prison had been tackled - but it is still not good enough.

According to the official statistics, absconding is divided into two categories: those that escape, of which in the past year there have been 19 incidences; and those who are allowed out on things like home leave and simply do not come back - again there were 19 incidences.

A total of 38 prisoners have gone absent without leave in the last year.

Some have proposed a fence be built around Castle Huntly and Noranside to improve security, but that has been opposed by Dr McLellan who says open prisons are a vital way of preparing inmates for release.