Mr Reid met offenders on community order schemes

Addressing concerns over absconder rates, Mr Reid said open jails serve an important purpose in helping offenders reintegrate into society.

But he said officials needed to be "very careful" about who is suitable.

Mr Reid was speaking as he launched a scheme which aims to see local areas benefit more from community penalties.

The Mayors' Community Payback Scheme will see town halls across England nominate projects or areas for offenders convicted of less serious offences to work on.

Mr Reid met offenders on community order schemes during his visit to Nottingham.

Serious case

Mr Reid's comments on open jails come after the Prison Service chief admitted not knowing the exact number of inmates who remained on-the-run after absconding.

Phil Wheatley said there was no central system to count escapees who had been recaptured, but such a database would now be developed.

It is the nature of open prisons that there is a risk of people walking out John Reid Q&A: Open prisons Impossible to stop - minister

Mr Reid referred to Sudbury open prison in Derbyshire, where five convicted killers have absconded since November.

He said the number of absconders from Sudbury was also falling.

Mr Reid said: "It is the nature of open prisons that there is a risk of people walking out."

However, he acknowledged that any missing prisoner was an "important and serious case".

Mr Reid said he has rejected some 41% of the Parole Board's recommendations for serious offenders to be transferred to open prisons - about five times as many as any of his predecessors.