David Lammy Faces Criticism Over Repeated Failures in Prison Release System
Political Editor Chris Mason reports that Justice Secretary David Lammy is facing mounting criticism after several high-profile incidents of prisoners being mistakenly released. Last week, following the unintended release of a migrant sex offender, Lammy claimed he was instituting the 'strongest release checks that have ever been in place.' However, since that declaration, two more erroneous releases have been documented, highlighting a failure in the justice system that has become increasingly visible.
Government figures from July indicate a worrying trend: 262 prisoners were released in error in the year leading up to March, representing a dramatic 128% rise from the previous year's total of 115. This trend reveals a persistent issue that is worsening over time.
Adding to the gravity of the situation is the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu, a recent high-profile case. Kebatu, who had arrived in the UK on a small boat and was convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman, was accidentally freed after serving time in an asylum hotel in Essex. He has since been deported, but the case drew renewed attention to the problem of accidental prisoner releases.
The ramifications of these errors are significant, with ministers resorting to language typically used by political opponents. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the arrival of migrants on small boats as 'shameful,' paralleling the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Lammy’s denunciation of the mistaken release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender. Lammy expressed his 'outrage' and noted that officials are working tirelessly to rectify the errors.
This controversy feeds into broader criticisms of government effectiveness, coming on the heels of ongoing challenges associated with migrant arrivals and raising questions about the government's capacity to maintain control in areas where the public expects competence.