Pressure Mounts on David Lammy Over Prison Release Errors
The number of violent or sex offenders mistakenly freed from prison in the past year has reached a record high, with 90 cases confirmed. This is eight times the 11 releases reported the previous year.
Government Response and Ongoing Crisis
Justice Secretary David Lammy faces intensified scrutiny as he admitted to withholding full details from MPs regarding prisoner release failures, stating he "didn't have all the facts." He acknowledged there remains “a mountain to climb” before the prison crisis is fully addressed.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended Mr Lammy but said he feels “angry and frustrated” about these mistakes.
Notable Cases of Wrongful Release
- Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, has been on the run for over a week after being mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth.
- William Smith, a 35-year-old fraudster also wrongly released from the same prison, voluntarily returned the following morning.
Timeline and Checks
David Lammy explained that Kaddour-Cherif's release occurred before new security checks were introduced, despite his claim to the Commons that these checks were effective two days prior to the error.
Summary: The mistaken release of 90 dangerous offenders in one year highlights significant flaws in the prison system, putting intense pressure on Justice Secretary Lammy to implement urgent reforms.
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