David Lammy expressed strong dismay and anger upon learning that another foreign criminal was mistakenly released from prison. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted significant flaws within the criminal justice system due to this incident. A search is ongoing for a 24-year-old Algerian man who was unintentionally freed from HMP Wandsworth on October 29 and reported missing to the Met on Tuesday.
The error came to light following Mr. Lammy’s refusal to disclose whether any asylum seekers had been released post the Hadush Kebatu scandal. The individual in question is not an asylum seeker. Mr. Lammy condemned the release, emphasizing the need for improved measures to prevent such failures. He announced an independent investigation overseen by Dame Lynne Owens to address and rectify the recurring issue of accidental releases.
During a tense exchange at PMQs, Mr. Lammy faced inquiries about further accidental releases of asylum seekers post the Kebatu incident. Kebatu, an Ethiopian national convicted of sexually assaulting a minor, was recently returned to his home country following a release mishap from HMP Chelmsford. Mr. Lammy is expected to update Parliament on the latest development.
The Met Police confirmed being notified about the Algerian man’s release and initiated urgent efforts to locate and return him to custody. The situation has drawn criticism from opposition figures, with the Lib Dem justice spokeswoman calling for accountability and transparency regarding the repeated errors by the Ministry of Justice.