Overview
- Official data published on Tuesday shows 91 erroneous releases between April 1 and October 31, roughly three per week, following 262 errors in the year to March 2025, a 128% annual rise.
- David Lammy told MPs three mistakenly released prisoners remain at large, while a separate case from November 3 has now been confirmed as a wrongful release and the inmate has been returned to custody.
- Officials said none of the three at large are sex offenders; two are British and one is a foreign national, linked to offences including aggravated burglary, a class B drug crime and failure to surrender.
- Recent cases include Hadush Kebatu being wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford before deportation, Brahim Kaddour‑Cherif released from HMP Wandsworth after staff missed an emailed warrant and later recaptured, and fraudster Billy Smith who surrendered.
- The government response includes tougher release checks, a new justice performance board chaired by the Justice Secretary, a £10m AI and digitisation programme, rapid‑access court hotlines and longer‑term plans to expand prison capacity.