Justice Secretary David Lammy has publicly confirmed that two prisoners remain unlawfully free after being released from custody due to a significant administrative error.
Minister's Admission and Ongoing Search
In a statement made on the morning of Tuesday, 2 December 2025, the senior cabinet minister revealed the ongoing situation. David Lammy admitted that efforts to locate the two individuals were actively underway, but he provided no further details regarding their identities or the specific institutions from which they were released.
Details of the Error
The confirmation highlights a serious failure within the prison system's release procedures. While the exact nature of the blunder has not been fully disclosed, such incidents typically involve:
- Incorrect processing of paperwork or sentencing records.
- Miscommunication between different agencies within the justice system.
- Failure to verify an inmate's eligibility for release.
This kind of mistake poses immediate questions about public safety and the robustness of administrative checks in UK prisons.
Implications and Public Assurance
The revelation will undoubtedly lead to scrutiny of the Ministry of Justice's operational protocols. Lammy's public admission suggests a move towards transparency, but it also places pressure on officials to swiftly rectify the error and recapture the individuals.
The public will be expecting assurances that such a critical failure will not be repeated. This incident is likely to prompt an internal review of release authorization processes across the prison estate to prevent future occurrences.
As this is a developing story, further updates on the manhunt and the internal investigation are expected throughout the day.
