At least three more prisoners are still on the run after being accidentally freed, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has admitted, reports BritPanorama.
Justice Secretary Lammy has faced accusations of “endangering the public” from his Conservative counterpart, Robert Jenrick, following a series of mistakes that have allowed criminals to remain at large.
In the House of Commons, Mr Lammy disclosed that 91 inmates have been incorrectly released since April, with three still unaccounted for, including one who has been missing since December of the previous year. An investigation is underway regarding another possible wrongful release on November 3.
Mr Jenrick slammed Lammy’s management of the situation, coining the term ‘Lammy’s lags’ to describe the category of prisoners who could “waltz out of prison” at will. He noted that despite assurances about improved checks on releases, multiple prisoners have been freed in error shortly after they were sentenced.
“Two weeks ago, he said he had put in place the strongest checks ever to stop releases in error. Yet, 48 hours later, another prisoner with a history of sex offences was released in error,” Jenrick remarked, citing specific cases that have raised significant concern.
A previous incident involving the wrongful release of migrant Hadush Kebatu has heightened public fears about prison management, particularly following the additional recent errors involving sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif and fraudster William Smith, who have since been returned to custody.
On average, errors in prisoner releases can stem from misplaced warrants, incorrect sentence calculations, or administrative errors within the justice system. Mr Lammy explained that his department reported 91 releases in error over a six-month period, acknowledging that individual cases might still be counted going forward.
“It’s important to note that this may be revised as additional cases are subsequently recorded,” Lammy stated, attributing errors in part to an underfunded and overstressed prison system.
‘A system under strain’
During the last year alone, there were 262 documented releases in error, with 87 of those involving violent offences and three related to sexual offences. Lammy has pledged to address these issues, which he describes as indicative of a prison system facing significant strain.
“Prisons today are still struggling with violence. The safety in custody statistics show an 8 per cent rise in the rate of assaults in the year to June 2025,” mentioned Lammy, elaborating on the challenges the system faces.
He has proposed the establishment of a new Justice Performance Board for better oversight and a dedicated hotline to clarify sentencing issues. Meanwhile, a government spokesperson pointed to the legacy of a prison system operating at near capacity, emphasising the dire circumstances inherited by the current administration.
“While these cases are rare, they have been increasing year-on-year, rising from an average of nine per month in 2023 to 17 per month in 2024,” the spokesperson noted.
“We recognise that fixing the prisons crisis will not happen overnight, but immediate actions, including stricter release checks, are being implemented, alongside plans to significantly increase prison capacity.”
With the introduction of a Sentencing Bill aimed at reforming the sentencing process, the government is emphasising its commitment to ensuring that similar issues do not arise again in the future.
The mishandling of prisoner releases raises critical questions about the effectiveness and accountability of the UK’s penal system, continuing to spark debate on the need for comprehensive reform and transparency moving forward.
