More than 90 prisoners freed by mistake since April

A total of 91 prisoners were mistakenly released between April and October this year, according to new government figures.

The data for England and Wales was released by the Ministry of Justice as ministers face pressure over accidental releases following a series of high-profile cases in recent weeks.

The Labor government had inherited a “crisis” from the Conservatives, Justice Secretary David Lammy told MPs the figures were “symptomatic of a prison system under terrible pressure”.

But shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said there was “confusion created by Labour’s failed early release plan”: introduced to alleviate prison overcrowdingHe was partly to blame.

The number of accidental releases has been increasing in recent years.

According to the latest annual figures, a total of 262 prisoners were mistakenly released in England and Wales in the 12 months to March; This figure reached 115, an increase of 128% compared to the previous year.

The latest data announced by the Ministry of Justice covers the seven-month period between April 1 and October 31.

The ministry said the figures included any prisoners who were released when they should have remained in custody and where no individual or third party was deliberately involved in the error.

It was stated that the data cannot be directly compared with annual figures and that there may be seasonal effects on publications and late registrations.

The ministry added that figures for recent months may change over time and that past revisions “have tended to be upwards”.

Speaking to the House of Commons after the figures were announced, Lammy said: “I am clear that we must address these figures, which are symptomatic of a prison system under terrible pressure.”

He told MPs that the number of frontline prison officers had fallen by a quarter between 2010 and 2017, resulting in fewer experienced staff.

“In these circumstances, it is not surprising that errors occur,” he added.

Lammy said the prison release process needed a “drastic overhaul” and that “over time, only technology will solve this problem.”

He listed a number of measures taken by the government as follows:

• A team of data scientists to review past accidental releases and understand systemic issues
• Up to £10 million over six months for new AI tools to help reduce human error and upgrade “archaic” paper-based systems
• A new emergency court helpline so prison staff can quickly check outstanding warrants before offenders are released
• Simplifying evacuation policy to standardize how cases are handled

It comes after the government launched an independent investigation into incidental publications, It is expected to report back in February next year.

In his statement, Lammy also gave detailed information about three prisoners who were released by mistake and are still at large.

The first was in prison for not surrendering to the police and was accidentally released in December 2024.

The latter was in prison for drug offenses and was mistakenly released in August 2024; The third was in prison for aggravated theft and was mistakenly released in June 2025.

One is a foreign criminal and the other two are British.

Lammy said Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service was also investigating another case of a man mistakenly released on November 3 who may still be at large.

Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick accused Lammy of presiding over “complete and utter nonsense” and said he had “literally lost track of how many prisoners he had lost”.

“The public is being put at risk,” he said, adding that Lammy “needs to control the situation or leave.”

Calling for the latest figures to be released, Jenrick said Lammy should have been dragged “kicking and screaming” to make them public.

He sought to blame Labour’s early release plan for creating “confusion” and contributing to a rising number of prisoners being released by mistake.

The emergency plan, implemented after prisons reached almost full capacity, allows some inmates to be released after serving 40 percent of their fixed-term sentences instead of the normal 50 percent.

But Lammy said the move was necessary because the Conservatives had not built enough prison places while the party was in government.

Last week it was revealed that two men were mistakenly released separately from HMP Wandsworth within a week. Both men were detained again following police investigation.

It follows the mistaken release of migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu, who arrived in the UK on a small boat, from HMP Chelmsford in Essex last month.

the one who is kebatu now deportedHe was living in an asylum hotel when he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Epping, triggering protests that spread across the country.