Justice Secretary confirms 12 prisoners mistakenly released amid crackdown
A total of 12 prisoners have been mistakenly released following a crackdown announced in November, confirmed the Justice Secretary today, reports BritPanorama.
Data indicates that there were 91 accidental releases between April 1 and October 31 this year. Justice Secretary David Lammy announced the additional 12 releases this morning, despite previous assurances aimed at improving the prison system.
Currently, two of the released individuals remain at large, although Lammy declined to offer further details about their identities. He noted, “I released data at that point, and there had been 91 releases in error up to that point, there have been 12 since then, two are currently at large.”
Lammy expressed satisfaction with a downward trend in such incidents since implementing new measures, yet Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick criticized him, saying, “Calamity Lammy admits (more) dangerous prisoners have been mistakenly released. But he won’t say who they are or where they are. When will this fiasco end?”
In a related development, Lammy plans to announce controversial reforms today aimed at addressing the backlog in the crown court system, which is nearing 80,000 cases. These reforms will include allowing judge-only cases for offenses with sentences under five years, effectively stripping defendants of the right to a jury trial.
The proposal has faced backlash from opposition parties and legal advocates. Lammy stated, “If someone is raped tonight, they could face waiting years for their attacker to be hauled into court.” He warned that without immediate action, the backlog could reach 100,000 cases by 2028.
He reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing victims while stating, “Jury trials will always stay at the heart of British justice.” Lammy emphasized the necessity of bold ideas to expedite the delivery of justice, underscoring that only three percent of trials currently go before a jury.
The ongoing situation reflects deep-seated challenges in the justice system that require both urgent attention and practical solutions to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law.
