Two inmates have absconded from an open prison.
Damien Burns, 39, originally from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and Dean Jackson, 27, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, absconded from the category D Hatfield Prison yesterday evening, South Yorkshire Police said.
A force spokesman said: " Officers believe they may be attempting to make their way back to the areas they originate from as they do not have any known connections in the South Yorkshire region."
Burns was sentenced in 2007 and was serving an indeterminate sentence for a knifepoint robbery and Jackson was on remand awaiting a sentence for a theft-related matter, he said.
The spokesman said: " If seen, police would strongly advise the public not to approach either man but to make contact with South Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting incident number 1009 or 1067 of 19 May 2014."
The incident comes a day after a murderer who stabbed a blind man to death was arrested after going on the run from prison.
Arnold Pickering was arrested for being unlawfully at large at an address in Oldham.
The 44-year-old, who was jailed for life in 1991 for killing a man he wrongly thought to be a paedophile, failed to return to HMP Kennet in Merseyside after leaving the Category C jail on day release on Saturday.
Another inmate, swastika-tattooed Thomas Moffett, 51, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for a number of robberies, also failed to return from day release on Saturday but was arrested last night for being unlawfully at large.
These incidents came just two weeks after notorious armed robber Michael Wheatley - known as Skullcracker - absconded from Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, while on temporary release.
Shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan called for "a full, independent and immediate inquiry" into the recent series of prison escapes, which he said were "now beyond a joke".
Mr Khan said: "Three sets of prisoners absconding in just three weeks shows the true scale of David Cameron's Government's incompetence.
"It's crucial they're recaptured as quickly as possible but the public have lost confidence in this Government being able to do even the most basic things right. This is now beyond a joke and a full, independent and immediate inquiry into these escapes is the only way the public's confidence can hope to be restored.
"It is growing clearer by the day that ministers are no longer in control of their own department. Chris Grayling's regime at the Ministry of Justice has turned into an utter shambles.
"On this Government's watch the rules on who can be in open prisons and released on licence have been relaxed. And with increased over-crowding and deep cuts to prison officers, corners are being cut and the public's safety is being put at risk. Chris Grayling is usually quick to seek an easy headline but his silence on this matter is deafening - he seems to have no answers whatsoever."
Sadiq Khan MP, Labour's shadow justice secretary, said: " Three sets of prisoners absconding in just three weeks shows the true scale of David Cameron's Government's incompetence.
"It's crucial they're recaptured as quickly as possible but the public have lost confidence in this Government being able to do even the most basic things right.
"This is now beyond a joke and a full, independent and immediate inquiry into these escapes is the only way the public's confidence can hope to be restored.
He added: "On this Government's watch, the rules on who can be in open prisons and released on licence have been relaxed. And with increased overcrowding and deep cuts to prison officers corners are being cut and the public's safety is being put at risk.
"Chris Grayling is usually quick to seek an easy headline but his silence on this matter is deafening - he seems to have no answers whatsoever."
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: "Keeping the public safe is our priority and I will not allow the actions of a small minority of offenders to undermine public confidence in the prison system.
"Absconds have reached record lows under this Government but I take each and every incident seriously. I have already ordered immediate changes to tighten up the system as a matter of urgency.
"With immediate effect, prisoners will no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, and there will also be no unrestricted 'town leave'.
"I am clear that open prisons and temporary licence remains an important tool in rehabilitating long-term offenders but not at the expense of public safety."
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