- News
- UK
- Home News
It comes after a string of high-profile accidental releases
Nicole Wootton-CaneTuesday 02 December 2025 07:54 GMTComments
David Lammy has been criticised over the issue (Jacob King/PA) (PA Wire)
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
David Lammy has confirmed two more prisoners have been released in error over the last three weeks.
Speaking on Sky News on Tuesday morning, the justice secretary confirmed there have been two erroneous releases since he made a statement to the House of Commons on 12 November.
Mr Lammy refused to go into detail on the cases, saying public knowledge of crucial information could frustrate police attempts to “nab them”.
It comes after a series of high-profile prisoner releases, including that of Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu, who was mistakenly released when he should have been taken to a detention centre in October. His 14-year-old victim said she felt "so scared and so anxious" in a statement following the blunder.
Shortly after an Algerian sex offender and a fraudster from HMP Wandsworth were also accidentally freed, leaving police scrambling.
A total of 91 prisoners have been freed by mistake between 1 April and 31 October this year – the equivalent of around three per week, according to the latest Ministry of Justice figures published last month.
This is a breaking story. More to follow...
More about
David LammyPrisonersPoliceJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
