Summary
The UK government will introduce biometric checks like fingerprint and facial recognition in prisons after 179 people were mistakenly released in one year. An independent review found that mistaken releases are part of a bigger problem, and new technology and more staff are planned to improve the system.
Key Facts
- 179 prisoners were accidentally released in England and Wales in the year to March.
- This number dropped from 262 the previous year but is higher than 115 in 2023-24.
- Mistaken releases happen due to errors like wrong warrants, sentence miscalculations, or court mistakes.
- Biometric checks will start being tested within six months, with a full rollout expected before the current parliament ends.
- The government plans to spend £82 million to fix these errors, including £20 million on updating paper-based systems.
- The review was led by Dame Lynne Owens after Hadush Kebatu was wrongly released from a prison in Essex.
- Kebatu was arrested again after two days and deported to Ethiopia.
- Additional security steps were introduced, including a checklist for prison officials when releasing prisoners.
