Overview
- The Ministry of Justice said 91 inmates were wrongly released between April 1 and October 31, averaging about three errors a week, with figures subject to revision as more cases are logged.
- Separate official data shows 262 mistaken releases in the year to March 2025, a 128% rise on the 115 recorded the previous year.
- David Lammy told MPs that three wrongly freed prisoners remain at large and officials are examining a potential fourth case from November 3; none of the three are convicted sex offenders, with two British nationals and one foreign national.
- Lammy said Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was released after a remand warrant emailed to HMP Wandsworth during his transfer was not picked up, an error that occurred before new security checks were introduced.
- The government has launched an independent review, tightened release procedures, and deployed tech experts with a £10m six‑month programme exploring AI, as police confirmed Kaddour-Cherif was re-arrested, fraudster Billy Smith surrendered, and Hadush Kebatu was deported.