David Lammy addresses prison release scandal
The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, has spoken out regarding the scandal surrounding the wrongful release of a migrant sex offender, stating that the incident occurred before the introduction of new security measures aimed at preventing such errors, reports BritPanorama.
Lammy emphasized that the Algerian offender, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth on October 29, just two days after the safeguards were supposed to take effect. His comments followed the release of other inmates, including Billy Smith, who was freed under similar circumstances on November 3.
His remarks come amid scrutiny over his reluctance to confirm the detainment status of another offender multiple times during Prime Minister’s Questions, despite being briefed on the case ahead of time. Critics have expressed frustration over what they perceive as a lack of transparency.
During his engagements, Lammy mentioned that he became aware of Kaddour-Cherif’s release late on Tuesday night and reiterated that the incident resulted from a court mistake, not a prison oversight. “The rate of release by error is too high. It has to come down. That’s why I’ve asked Dame Lynne Owens to look at this,” he stated.
His comments come in the context of rising concerns regarding the number of prisoners released in error, with government data indicating a staggering 128% increase in such incidents over the past year. In the twelve months leading up to March 2025, there were 262 cases of wrongful releases, a sharp rise from 115 the previous year.
On a recent visit to HMP Gartree, Lammy acknowledged to reporters that the high error rate is unacceptable. He also confirmed that prison chiefs would be summoned for a meeting to discuss the situation further. The Prison Governors Association described the scale of these errors as “deeply concerning,” even though they noted that such incidents only represent a small fraction of total releases.
The association further commented that while they believe only 0.5% of prisoners are released incorrectly, the operational failures in a system overseeing tens of thousands of releases suggest a need for significant reform.
In drawing lessons from his recent experiences, Lammy stressed the importance of having complete details before informing the public and the House of Commons about serious issues. “I was not equipped with all of the detail… that is the judgement I took. I think it’s the right judgement,” he concluded.
The scandal underscores ongoing concerns regarding operational integrity within the criminal justice system and the safeguarding of public safety.
In light of recent events, the discourse around accountability and systemic reform in the prison system will likely persist, challenging policymakers to address the complexities involved comprehensively.
