Two prisoners are currently missing in the UK following mistaken releases in the last month, according to statements made by David Lammy. The Justice Secretary confirmed that there have been two more inadvertent releases of individuals classified as “violent offenders or sex offenders,” bringing the total number of accidental releases to 12 since November. Previous data indicated that 91 mistaken releases occurred between April 1 and October 31 this year, a figure that has now increased.
Lammy, speaking on BBC Breakfast, highlighted that there had been 91 errors in releases up to a few weeks ago, with an additional 12 since then, resulting in two individuals currently unaccounted for. He expressed satisfaction that there has been a decline in the trend following the implementation of system improvements.
When pressed for specifics on the whereabouts of the missing prisoners, Lammy declined to provide a continuous update. Downing Street previously expressed shock over more than 90 cases of wrongful releases since April.
Recently, Lammy announced a £10 million initiative to introduce AI-powered tools for staff to accurately calculate sentences and enhance outdated paper-based systems. An urgent independent review has also been commissioned to investigate the surge in errors. The Ministry of Justice noted that prison staff, already under significant pressure, are burdened with over 500 pages of guidance, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.
The issue of mistaken prisoner releases gained attention after the well-known case of Hadush Kebatu, a deported migrant involved in protests in Epping, Essex. Official statistics indicate that approximately 800 prisoners were mistakenly released during the Conservative administration. The number of incorrect releases rose steadily under the previous Conservative government, peaking at 115 in 2023/24.
In the first year of the Labour government in 2024/25, the number of erroneous releases climbed to 262. The Labour Party’s early release scheme, implemented due to inheriting a struggling justice system, has contributed to this increase.