Three prisoners were mistakenly released due to various errors, shedding light on a concerning situation. A significant manhunt is in progress for two of the freed prisoners, one being a migrant sex offender. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones highlighted the complexity of the situation, attributing the issue to 14 years of Tory austerity.
William Smith, a convicted fraudster, was erroneously released from Wandsworth Prison following a sentencing error at Croydon Crown Court, where he was supposed to serve 45 months for multiple fraud convictions. Surrey Police are actively investigating his whereabouts, mentioning his possible connection to Woking but also warning that he could be in any part of Surrey.
Meanwhile, the search continues for Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian sex offender who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth. The Metropolitan Police were informed of his release almost a week after it happened, initiating a search operation to locate him. Hadush Kebatu, who was wrongfully released from HMP Chelmsford, has already left the UK for Ethiopia after being deported for sexual assault crimes.
The incidents of wrongful releases have been on the rise, with the Ministry of Justice attributing these errors to misplaced warrants, unacted recall notices, and sentencing miscalculations. The situation has prompted urgent actions by the government, including a review of sentencing laws to prevent such mishaps in the future.
Prison officials are currently under scrutiny, with Ms. Davies-Jones calling for crisis talks with prison governors to address the systemic failures that led to these erroneous releases. Efforts are also underway to modernize outdated paper-based prison record systems with the help of technology experts. An independent investigation, led by Dame Lynne Owens, has been promised to ensure the implementation of the strictest security measures to prevent similar incidents.
