At least half of the most serious offenders released in the foreign prisoner scandal in UK are still on the run, it was revealed today.
Beleaguered Home Secretary Charles Clarke said that of the 79 most serious offenders identified last week - convicted of murder, manslaughter, rape and child sex attacks - 32 have been tracked down and officials have ruled out deporting another nine.
A Home Office spokeswoman confirmed that the remaining 38 were still at large.
A further 11 offenders in the killers and rapists category have also been identified among the 1,023 released overall, Mr Clarke said, bringing the total to 90.
The Home Office refused to say whether any of these 11 were now in custody, and to reveal how many more offenders have gone on to commit more crimes.
The latest disclosures came as British Prime Minister Tony Blair was accused of "completely losing control" of his government by Conservative Party leader David Cameron.
At a rowdy session of Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons, Mr Cameron said Mr Blair was "arrogantly attached" to the post of prime minister.
"This Home Secretary will forever be associated with the scandal of releasing prisoners on to the streets," Mr Cameron said.
"While the Prime Minister keeps him in office, his claim to be tough on crime will be completely hollow.
"Aren't people now paying the price for the arrogant attachment to office of a leader who has completely lost control?"
Mr Blair told MPs the deportation system for prisoners had not functioned properly for "decades", but cases were now all being considered prior to release.
"It is completely wrong to say that this problem was created or began under this Home Secretary," Mr Blair said.
PA