Twelve More Inmates Released by Mistake, Two Still Unaccounted For, Reports Lammy

In a startling revelation, Justice Secretary David Lammy announced that twelve inmates were inadvertently released over the last three weeks, with two individuals still unaccounted for. This incident adds to the alarming statistic of ninety-one prisoners who were mistakenly set free between April and October across England and Wales.

During an interview, Lammy highlighted the persistent issue of ‘human error’ prevalent in a system reliant on outdated paper processes. He expressed optimism that transitioning to a fully digital framework would enhance the accuracy of prisoner releases.

While acknowledging a recent uptick in accidental releases, he noted that the trend is beginning to decline. Speaking to a different outlet, Lammy reassured the public that the two missing prisoners do not pose a threat, as they are neither violent offenders nor sexual predators.

“I cannot disclose specifics about these cases as such decisions are operational matters for the police, and it’s crucial to maintain the element of surprise during arrests,” he remarked.

The issue of wrongful releases gained significant attention following the case of Hadush Kebatu, who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and another woman while residing in an asylum hotel in Epping. Shortly after his erroneous release, it became known that two additional inmates had also been freed by mistake: William Smith, who later turned himself in, and Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, who was subsequently rearrested.

In response to these incidents, the government has initiated new security protocols to scrutinize individuals being released from incarceration. The latest wrongful releases occurred after November 11, following Lammy’s address to the House of Commons, where he outlined the measures the government plans to implement to address this escalating problem.

In the previous year, the number of mistakenly released prisoners surged by an astonishing 128%, rising from 115 in the 2023-2024 period to 262 in 2024-2025. In total, there were approximately 57,000 releases of inmates completing their sentences in England and Wales during 2024-2025, marking a 13% increase from the prior year.

Lammy acknowledged the concerning rise in these figures, stating, “I am determined to reduce these numbers, but we face significant challenges ahead.” He attributed part of the problem to the loss of 6,000 prison officers under the previous Conservative administration.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has previously held the Labour government accountable for this increase, attributing it to the confusion stemming from their poorly executed early release initiative designed to alleviate prison overcrowding. In response to the announcement of the twelve new releases, he exclaimed, “The public is continuously at risk due to his disastrous management. When will this debacle conclude?”

Liberal Democrat representative Jess Brown-Fuller expressed her discontent, stating, “It is completely unacceptable that public safety has been endangered once more. Both the government and the prison service must accept responsibility for their shortcomings and ensure that these errors cease permanently.”

Last month, Lammy outlined the government’s commitment to addressing the issue, which includes an investment of up to £10 million in new artificial intelligence technologies to minimize human errors and update the current paper-based systems utilized within the prison framework.

The government has also enlisted the expertise of Dame Lynne Owens, former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to conduct an investigation into the lapses that led to Kebatu’s release and the broader errors within the prison system. Kebatu was rearrested two days following his release and has since been deported to Ethiopia.