David Lammy expressed strong dismay and anger following the accidental release of another foreign criminal from prison. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted significant flaws within the criminal justice system as a manhunt commenced for a 24-year-old Algerian man mistakenly set free from HMP Wandsworth on October 29, with the Metropolitan Police alerted on Tuesday.
This incident surfaced after Mr. Lammy declined to disclose whether any asylum seekers had been erroneously released post the Hadush Kebatu scandal. It was clarified that the missing individual is not an asylum seeker. Mr. Lammy condemned the release, stating his outrage and asserting the urgent manhunt led by the Metropolitan Police.
In response, Mr. Lammy emphasized the need for improved victim support and public accountability. He announced stringent measures to prevent such errors in the future, including an independent investigation by Dame Lynne Owens to address the recurring issue of inadvertent releases.
During a tense questioning session, Mr. Lammy faced scrutiny over the possibility of further accidental releases of asylum seekers post the Kebatu incident. The Ethiopian national, involved in a sexual assault case, was repatriated after being mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford. Calls have been made for Mr. Lammy to update Parliament on the recent release incident.
It was reported that Mr. Lammy was briefed about the Algerian man’s release overnight but refrained from discussing it during the questioning session given the ongoing developments. Criticism from the opposition, including Jess Brown-Fuller, highlighted the government’s accountability and demanded a comprehensive explanation.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the erroneous release of the Algerian man from HMP Wandsworth and initiated urgent efforts to locate and return him to custody.