David Lammy, the justice secretary, is facing mounting pressure after two more prisoners, including a convicted foreign sex offender, were mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison in south London. The errors come just days after the introduction of new checks designed to prevent such incidents, and within a week of another similar blunder.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed on Wednesday evening that Lammy had not been "accurately informed of key details" when questioned about missing prisoners. Earlier, at prime minister's questions, he had repeatedly declined to say whether further releases had occurred.
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian who overstayed his visa, was wrongly freed last Wednesday, with the Metropolitan police notified only on Tuesday. He had been serving an 18-month community order for indecent exposure, and was also in prison for trespass with intent to steal. The same prison also released William Smith, 35, a fraudster sentenced to 45 months on Monday, on the same day in error.
These latest cases follow the accidental release of Hadush Kebatu from Chelmsford prison, an Ethiopian national convicted of sexual assaults, who was due to be transferred to immigration detention. Lammy had introduced five pages of new checks for prison governors after that incident.
The Prison Service is investigating whether warrants to hold the men were missing or misplaced, a problem that has become increasingly common as prisoners are moved between jails and courts. Downing Street described the latest case as "concerning", adding that the circumstances would be "forensically looked at". The review led by Lynne Owens will likely consider the case.
Local MP Rosena Allin-Khan said residents would be "deeply concerned" and demanded answers from the government. The opposition also clashed with Lammy at PMQs, asking whether any asylum-seeking offenders had been accidentally released since Kebatu.
