Overview
- Sussex Police issued an appeal to find William Wenham, 47, who was released in error from HMP Rochester on June 3 and later convicted in his absence, urging the public to call 999 with sightings.
- Justice minister Lord James Timpson told Parliament that, after further checks, one suspected case was deemed lawful and another prisoner was returned to custody, leaving two people at large following mistaken releases.
- Ministry of Justice data show 91 accidental releases between April 1 and October 31, 2025, following a record 262 in the year to March 2025.
- A 34-year-old man wrongly freed on November 3 was charged with stalking on the same day and was rearrested by Leicestershire Police before being returned to prison.
- The government has ordered stronger pre-release checks and an independent investigation, with recent high-profile cases at HMP Wandsworth and the Chelmsford error underscoring wider operational strain.