The error at HMP Wandsworth in south London occurred on 29 October – simply 5 days after the high-profile launch of migrant intercourse offender Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford in Essex.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
3:35
Deported intercourse offender says police ignored him
It was additionally two days after Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy introduced enhanced checks on prisoner releases.
“The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.
“Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.”
Picture:
HMP Wandsworth in south London. Pic: PA
It’s not but clear why it was practically every week between the newest launch at Wandsworth and the police being knowledgeable that an offender was at giant.
Sir Keir Starmer was not conscious of the incident till the Met Police announcement, Downing Road mentioned on Wednesday.
The prime minister’s spokesman advised reporters: “The Met have released a statement I think in the last few minutes.”
He mentioned “one mistaken release is one too many” and the case was “utterly unacceptable”.
“It’s important the police are given the time and space to bring him back into custody. And we will look into the circumstances behind this as a matter of urgency,” he added.
The PM’s spokesman couldn’t say when Mr Lammy grew to become conscious of the error, after the cupboard minister refused to reply a number of questions within the Commons on the incident from the shadow defence secretary.
Tory chief Kemi Badenoch wrote on X: “James Cartlidge asked the Deputy PM FIVE times to tell us if ANOTHER migrant sex offender had been accidentally released from prison.
“As a substitute of answering, Lammy misplaced his mood.
“Now we read it HAS happened again & he’s been on the run for a week.
“It is a shambles of a authorities.”
“If we knew, one can solely assume the justice secretary knew,” a spokesman for Ms Badenoch said later.
Mr Lammy should come back to the chamber “and do an announcement as quickly as doable”, he added.
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage posted on social media: “Another dangerous criminal is on the loose thanks to Labour.
“What a complete farce.”
The numbers of these types of errors has risen recently, with 262 instances between March 2024 and March 2025.
In the aftermath of the Kebatu manhunt, Mr Lammy promised “the strongest launch checks which have ever been in place”.
He also ordered an independent investigation into the Kebatu release, which is being led by former Deputy Commissioner of the Met Police Dame Lynne Owens.
The Conservatives described the Kebatu episode as a “nationwide embarrassment”.
The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for remark concerning the newest incident at HMP Wandsworth.
