UK Prisons Saw 179 Erroneous Releases in Past Year, Down from 262; Government Launches Biometrics Initiative

# UK Prisons Released 179 Inmates in Error Over Past Year, Government Announces Biometrics Plan The UK Ministry of Justice reported that 179 prisoners were released in error between April 2024 and March 2025. Prisons have freed an average of three prisoners a week by mistake. The Times reported these figures as part of an examination of release errors.

Since the wrongful release of Hadush Kebatu in October 2024, 50 prisoners were released by mistake. Hadush Kebatu was sentenced to one year in jail for sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a woman. He sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl while living at The Bell Hotel in Essex.

Erroneous Releases Linked to Systemic Issues David Lammy stated that the unacceptable rise in release errors resulted from a broken system caused by 14 years of underinvestment and overcrowding in prisons and courts.

Releases in error could include misplaced warrants for imprisonment or remand, sentence miscalculations, or mistakes by courts or other authorities, according to the Ministry of Justice. The Times reported on these contributing factors. Between April 2023 and March 2024, 262 prisoners were released in error, including those released later than they should have been.

This marked a higher number compared to the subsequent year's 179 erroneous releases. The data highlights a pattern of administrative mistakes in the prison system.

Case of Hadush Kebatu's Mistaken Release Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released in October 2024.

After his release, he returned to prison up to five times asking to be deported. He was located in Finsbury Park, north London, after a police hunt. Hadush Kebatu has been deported to Ethiopia. His case drew attention to the frequency of release errors, with 50 such incidents occurring since his mistaken release.

The Times reported details of his assaults, sentencing, and subsequent events.

Government Response with Digital and Staffing Measures David Lammy will introduce digital identities for prisoners and use fingerprints and facial scans to reduce errors.

The government is rolling out biometrics, a new Justice ID, and up to £82 million to reduce errors. This initiative aims to address the identified systemic problems. £20 million will be used in 2025 to digitise paper-based processes and add checks and staff.

The government will spend £8 million to increase manual checks in Crown and magistrates’ courts. These funds target improvements in administrative accuracy. The government will recruit and train 90 additional Crown Court clerks and 75 extra administrative staff in magistrates’ courts.

David Lammy announced these staffing expansions as part of the broader effort to prevent future erroneous releases. The measures build on the recognition of underinvestment in the justice system.