SIR - Phil Wheatley, the director general of the Prison Service, should be locked up himself after admitting he doesn't know how many inmates are on the run from open prisons.

What part of his duty is more important to attract his daily attention than knowing this critical situation?

He then makes himself look even more ridiculous by stating there is no system in place to count the number of inmates recaptured and needs a database developed.

Has Phil Wheatley heard of a school register - like counting them in and counting them out? All that is needed is a small amount of brain and a piece of A4 paper.

At school, 50 years ago, the teachers entrusted 11-year-old pupils to carry out this simple task.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden