David Lammy has acknowledged that he lacked sufficient information regarding the mistaken release of a prisoner when he avoided answering questions during Prime Minister’s Questions. Acting as the Deputy PM for Keir Starmer, Lammy defended his decision to withhold details from MPs to prevent potentially misleading the House of Commons and the public due to the lack of comprehensive information available.
During a heated exchange with Tory James Cartlidge, Lammy, who also serves as the Justice Secretary, chose not to directly address inquiries about further mistaken releases of asylum seekers following the release of Hadush Kebatu from an Epping hotel. Subsequently, it was revealed post-PMQs that another prisoner, registered sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, had been mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, prompting questions about Lammy’s awareness of the situation.
It is noteworthy that Kaddour-Cherif was not an asylum seeker, the specific focus of Cartlidge’s questions. The Ministry of Justice clarified that details were still unfolding regarding the case at the time of Lammy’s parliamentary appearance, including the offender’s immigration status.
In response to inquiries about the PMQs exchange, Lammy explained that he had only become aware of the situation on Wednesday morning while at the department preparing for Prime Minister’s Questions. He emphasized the importance of having all necessary details when addressing serious matters to avoid inadvertently misinforming the House and the public.
Following the revelation of Kaddour-Cherif’s wrongful release, another case involving the mistaken release of William, also known as Billy, Smith, was reported. Smith, a fraudster, was erroneously released due to a mix-up in his sentencing details with someone sharing a similar surname. Lammy, who assumed the role of Justice Secretary in September, acknowledged the challenges faced by Labour in addressing the prisons crisis and expressed determination to reduce the rate of release errors in the flawed paper-based system.
Lammy highlighted the historical issue of errors in the prison system, noting that corrective measures were imperative despite the significant task ahead. He stressed the need to address the systemic challenges to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the release processes, recognizing the long-standing crisis within the prison system.
