The mistaken release of a second foreign prisoner has laid bare deep cracks in England’s prison system, with breakdowns in communication and technology between prisons, the Ministry of Justice and the courts blamed for the errors. The latest blunder at HMP Wandsworth follows a series of incidents that have exposed years of neglect and overcrowding.
During the government’s emergency prison release scheme in September 2024 to tackle overcrowding, 37 inmates were freed in error after their offences were wrongly logged under repealed legislation. A computer system designed to automate release dates has failed, forcing staff to calculate by hand. In the 12 months to March 2024, 262 prisoners were released in error—a 128% increase from 115 the previous year.
High-profile cases have highlighted the chaos. Hadush Kebatu, a former asylum seeker whose sexual offences sparked violent unrest in Essex, was accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford and later returned to the prison in a “very confused” state, only to be turned away. In September 2023, former soldier Daniel Khalife escaped from HMP Wandsworth by clinging to a food delivery truck; two guards had checked the vehicle but allowed it to leave despite reporting a missing inmate.
HMP Wandsworth was placed in special measures after Khalife’s escape and remains “severely overcrowded”. Inspectors warned of a “sustained decline permitted to happen in plain view of leaders”, adding that guards did not always know where prisoners on their wings were, despite a £900,000 investment. Chief inspector Charlie Taylor said the prison was “still reeling” from the escape and security remained a “serious concern”.
Justice Secretary David Lammy introduced a five-page set of checks just over a week ago requiring senior staff to sign off releases and making duty governors personally responsible. Yet the latest errors show the system remains broken, raising questions over the effectiveness of the reforms and the depth of the crisis facing England’s prisons.
