A violent criminal who went on the run from an open prison had absconded previously from the open estate and escaped from a closed jail, a report revealed yesterday.
Brian "Hawk" Martin was moved to Castle Huntly, near Dundee, despite clear warnings on the front cover of his case file about his criminal history and previous escapes.
Politicians last night said the incident involving "the most dangerous man in Britain" had undermined public confidence in Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, and called for immediate reforms to the open estate.
The report, commissioned by Mr MacAskill after Martin turned himself in, revealed a shocking catalogue of errors by prison staff and the group which recommended his move without waiting for the police intelligence report.
Professor Alex Spencer, former prison governor and author of the report, questioned the current use of the open estate and called for an end to short-term prisoners - those serving four years or less - being sent there.
He recommended the use of GPS satellite-tracking tags to keep tabs on offenders there.
Scottish Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker said: "The report makes it clear that the system is broken and changes have to be made. Only a prison governor should have the power to approve a transfer."
"Kenny MacAskill told us that after the Robert Foye case that lessons would be learned and he would change the system. This report makes it clear that he has singularly failed."
Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken, said: "Mr MacAskill has consistently failed to be more hands on with the management of the SPS."
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said: "We must make sure that only those people fit to be in the open estate end up there. It is a necessary part of our prison system, but it must function properly.
"The recommendations in the report place additional significant new obligations on both the police and the prison service.
"Ministers must now make a guarantee that financial resources will be made available to implement this report's recommendations."
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