Prisons begin extra checks after migrant released in error

Following the release of a migrant sex offender in error last week, additional checks will be carried out in jails across England and Wales starting this week. The government has ordered prison governors to implement new measures to prevent the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford on Friday, an error that resulted in a two-day manhunt before his detention in London on Sunday.

Justice Secretary David Lammy will face questions in Parliament today on the independent inquiry into how Kebatu, who was due to be deported, was mistakenly set free.

Prison System Concerns and Staff Reaction

The incident has reignited concern about the state of HM Prison Service, which the government itself has described as "broken."

• Rising Mistaken Releases: The number of prisoners mistakenly released has risen dramatically, with 262 convicted individuals being released in error between April 2024 and March 2025, up from 115 in the same period a year before.

   

• Incompetence and High Churn: The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "something is going wrong" with the prison system. He pointed to the prison system's high "churn," which leaves inexperienced employees with large caseloads. This pressure is compounded by the introduction of several early release programmes in recent years.

   

• Staff Strain: Senior prison staff told BBC News that the extra checks will increase their workload and place further strain on an already struggling system. Mr Taylor, however, could not confirm if the new checklist was proportionate as it had not been fully shared.

   

• Government's Stance: Housing Secretary Steve Reed described Kebatu's release as "catastrophic" and insisted that prison staff must perform the extra checks regardless of workload constraints. He told GB News: "When the Justice Secretary announces that they will carry out these checks to prevent accidental leaks, they will follow his orders... We will not accept this as a government or as if a nation after finding convicted criminals set loose by accident. Absolutely unacceptable."

• Health Secretary's View: Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the pressure on the Prison Service, but argued: "even against that backdrop, it doesn't explain or excuse the release of people on our streets who have no company being there."

   

Kebatu's Background and Manhunt

Kebatu was arrested at 08:30 on Sunday in the Finsbury Park area of north London, ending a 48-hour manhunt. He had been living in an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, after arriving in the UK on a small boat, and was later charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in July.

Kebatu, whose case had been the subject of local protests, was mistakenly told by prison workers on Friday that he could walk free, instead of being transferred to an immigration detention facility ahead of his planned deportation.

• Deportation: Mr Lammy has stated that Kebatu is due to be deported later this week.

   

• Disciplinary Action: A prison officer at HMP Chelmsford has been barred from active service, though a senior prison employee suggested the dismissal was "down to a string of mistakes, most likely because workers are overworked and in short supply."

Political Reaction

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Sunday that an investigation was underway to "make sure this doesn't happen again."

• Former Justice Minister: Alex Chalk, the former Conservative Justice Minister, called for an investigation to "learn lessons," stating the incident was symptomatic of larger prison system issues. He highlighted the issue of funding, telling BBC Breakfast that the entire annual budget of the Ministry of Justice is spent by the Department for Work and Pensions in just two weeks, and constantly pleading to "ensure that the prison service has the funding it needs to ensure we are recruiting and retaining people with skills and experience to ensure these issues do not arise."

• Labour's Response: Mr Lammy claimed the Labour government "inherited a system that was collapsing [from the Conservatives]."

   

• Other Parties: Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, called for a national inquiry following the incident. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the event demonstrated that the UK's "once-trusted services," including the police and prisons, were "disintegrating before our eyes."