A union leader stated that a prison staff member was suspended unfairly following the accidental release of a migrant sex offender from HMP Chelmsford. Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was mistakenly set free instead of being transferred to an immigration detention center. This blunder allowed Kebatu to reach London before being re-apprehended two days later.
Having completed his sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, Kebatu is scheduled for deportation back to Ethiopia this week. Justice Secretary David Lammy has initiated an independent investigation into the incident.
Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the prison officers’ union, expressed deep regret over the error. He highlighted the breakdown in procedures that led to the mistaken release of Kebatu and emphasized the need for accountability.
Lammy assured lawmakers that Kebatu would soon be deported, but acknowledged the distress felt by the victims and the public. He stressed the need for transparency and immediate action to prevent similar errors in the future.
Dame Lynn Owens, a former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Kebatu’s release. Enhanced checks and oversight measures are being implemented to ensure proper procedures are followed during prisoner releases, with a focus on preventing further mistaken releases.
Foreign nationals set for deportation will now only be released in the presence of a duty governor, and removals from HMP Chelmsford have been halted temporarily. Lammy also revealed an increase in mistaken releases over the past years, prompting a thorough review of release processes to safeguard the public.