Justice Secretary David Lammy has revealed that 12 inmates have been wrongly released in the past three weeks, with two individuals still unaccounted for. The latest incidents add to a long-running problem, following 91 mistaken releases recorded between April and October across England and Wales.
Lammy said the main cause of the problem is the continued reliance on paper-based processes, arguing that mistakes are inevitable until prisons fully switch to a digital system. He acknowledged a recent surge in errors but insisted the trend is now reversing. Speaking later, he stressed that the two remaining fugitives are not violent offenders, stating he would not disclose further details due to ongoing police operations.
Public scrutiny increased after the accidental release of Hadush Kebatu, convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager and a woman while living in an asylum hotel. His case was swiftly followed by two other mistaken releases — William Smith, who later surrendered, and Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, who was located by police. The incidents prompted new security measures for prisoner discharges.
The latest errors occurred after Lammy addressed Parliament on 11 November, outlining steps to tighten processes. Official figures show mistaken releases rose by 128% over the past year, from 115 to 262. The overall number of lawful prisoner releases also climbed, up 13% to more than 57,000 in 2024-25.
Lammy admitted the scale of the challenge, partly attributing it to a loss of 6,000 officers under the previous Conservative government. However, his opponents argued ministers bear responsibility for worsening risks. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick accused the government of “shambolic management”, while Liberal Democrat spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller said public safety had been “put at risk yet again”.
In response, the government has pledged up to £10m for new AI tools and digital upgrades, alongside a review led by former Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Dame Lynne Owens. Kebatu, who was re-detained two days after his release, has since been deported to Ethiopia.
Lammy said modernisation is essential and ongoing, adding that while improvements are underway, “there is a mountain to climb.”