Summary
Between April and October, 91 prisoners in England and Wales were mistakenly released. The government shared this data, responding to demands for transparency about the increase in accidental releases. There is public concern over these mistakes, especially after some recent high-profile cases.
Key Facts
- 91 prisoners were released by mistake in England and Wales from April to October.
- The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, addressed the issue in Parliament.
- This problem has been escalating, with accidental releases increasing by 128% over the previous year.
- The Ministry of Justice stated that these releases do not involve deliberate errors by prisoners or others.
- Some cases involved prisoners mistakenly released from specific prisons, such as HMP Wandsworth.
- High-profile incidents include migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu wrongly released, then deported after reoffending.
- The government's figures are provisional and may be adjusted later.
- Political pressure exists to solve the security issues in prisons, as highlighted by recent cases.
