Britain’s prison crisis deepened this week as it emerged that 91 inmates were released in error between April and October – with three prisoners still at large despite nationwide manhunts.
The shocking figures, published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), highlight the scale of chaos across the prison system. It comes amid growing pressure on Justice Secretary David Lammy, who admitted there is “a mountain to climb” to fix chronic failings across Britain’s jails.
Justice Secretary David Lammy,
🚨 Prison blunders spark national outrage
The data, covering the period between 1 April and 31 October, revealed that 91 inmates were mistakenly freed from custody during just seven months. Three remain on the run, according to officials.
The revelation follows a string of high-profile blunders, including the accidental release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender who was wrongly freed from HMP Wandsworth on 29 October before being recaptured in Finsbury Park, North London, last week.
Kaddour-Cherif’s case came just days after fraudster Billy Smith was also released in error from the same prison, though he later handed himself in.
Earlier this year, another offender, Hadush Kebatu, a migrant sex offender at the centre of protests in Epping, Essex, was mistakenly let go from HMP Chelmsford before being caught and deported.
Three high-profile manhunts have taken place over the last month.
According to the MoJ, 262 prisoners were released in error in the year to March 2025 – a staggering 128% increase on the 115 recorded the previous year.
🧾 Lammy under pressure as MPs demand answers
Facing growing calls to resign, David Lammy addressed MPs in the Commons on Tuesday, admitting that Britain’s prisons were under “relentless strain.”
“At that time, I had been alerted to the release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif from HMP Wandsworth,” he told the House. “Details were still emerging throughout Wednesday, and I made a judgment to wait until I had all the facts rather than risk giving inaccurate or incomplete information to the House.”
Mr Lammy acknowledged that mistakes were “unsurprising” in a system that has been “underfunded, understaffed and operating under relentless strain for decades.”
The figures showed that 87 of those released by mistake had been jailed for violent offences, while three were serving sentences for sexual crimes.
🧠 Outdated systems and human error blamed
Lammy said the problem stemmed partly from outdated administrative systems.
“Every prisoner’s sentence is still worked out on paper,” he said. “There are more than 500 pages of guidance, and the complexity increases the likelihood of human error.”
He cited rising violence inside prisons, with an 8% increase in assaults recorded in the year to June 2025.
💻 New technology and AI reforms on the way
To address the crisis, Lammy announced new technology-focused measures designed to reduce human mistakes.
“I stood up a digital rapid response team last week to reduce human error with cutting-edge technology,” he said. “Over the next six months, we’ll invest up to £10 million in AI and digital solutions to help staff calculate sentences accurately and avoid errors.”
I have announced a new action plan to bear down on release errors from prisons.
It includes AI-powered sentence checks, a fast-track courts hotline & a Justice Performance Board I’m chairing.
There’s still a mountain to climb, but we're doing all we can to keep the public safe. pic.twitter.com/GzJatGdZ0I
He also confirmed plans to simplify release policies and standardise sentencing through upcoming reforms in the government’s Sentencing Bill.
🏛️ Downing Street defends record
A Downing Street spokesperson echoed Lammy’s comments, describing the figures as “symptomatic of a broken system inherited from the previous government.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
“The public are right to be shocked by these cases,” the spokesperson said. “While they are rare, they’ve risen from an average of nine per month in 2023 to 17 per month the following year. You can’t fix the crisis overnight, but we’ve taken immediate action – including tougher release checks, calling in governors, and deploying tech experts.”
Despite these assurances, critics say the blunders are undermining public confidence in the justice system and leaving dangerous offenders free on the streets.
With three prisoners still missing and prison staff stretched to breaking point, the crisis looks far from over.
Joe Connor is a UK-based reporter specialising in politics, public policy, and national affairs. He has previously contributed to publications including The London Economic (JOE Media Group) and Spotted News.
At The Daily Britain, he covers Westminster politics, elections, and breaking political developments, alongside in-depth analysis of policy decisions and their real-world impact.
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