Can you believe this has happened again

*growstuff” One was an Algerian sex offender who was here illegally although not an asylum seeker (as originally stated by media) having overstayed.

The other (Billy Smith) was a fraudster. He was mistakenly released after something like 74 hours.

Lammy clearly couldn’t be bothered either.

Oreo

Spinnaker

Yes, and only an hour earlier David Lammy refused six times to answer the question whether any others had been mistakenly released since Hadush Kabatu was a couple of weeks ago. Ye Gods !!!

And Lammy knew all about it as he was briefed the night before and this morning! Refusing to answer six times and behaving like an angry yob.
He was so rattled he refused to tell the truth.

I thought he was asked if asylum seekers had been released accidentally. They hadn't. (Could be wrong - can't be bothered.)

Lammy completely lost it at PMQs. Very poor performance. Rises to the bait too easily. Not a good choice for Deputy PM.

Nothing’s changed in the last week as regards to toughening the checks! You’d think they’d now be extra vigilant.
I would have respected Lammy if he had told the truth on this matter and simply apologised.

This has always happened. Remember Joseph McCann freed in 2019 who went on to carry out a "sex attack spree". Sadly, that guy didn't fit the demographic of those some on here love to hate. With a system run down over the previous 14 years I can't see why this is surprising. Awful, yes but surprising, not really.

David Lammy has been increasing and toughening the checks before release and, no doubt we will see how that helps in the future.

Spinnaker

Yes, and only an hour earlier David Lammy refused six times to answer the question whether any others had been mistakenly released since Hadush Kabatu was a couple of weeks ago. Ye Gods !!!

And Lammy knew all about it as he was briefed the night before and this morning! Refusing to answer six times and behaving like an angry yob.
He was so rattled he refused to tell the truth.

It could be said that the cuts have been criminal.

I think the obsession with this is only happening because it’s a Labour government. It was worse under the Tories. Austerity meant a cut in experienced prison officers and the probation service. Much of it outsourced to profit making private companies. Terrible mistake.

Primrose I don't know exactly how many were accidentally released in the part of the year that fell under the last administration and how many under the current one. The figures have been increasing year on year, that's all I know.

bonbons01

Yes it did Maremia, 81 were accidentally released in the year of March 2022/23, 115 in 2023/24.
In the ending March 2025 it was 262, so partly under our previous government and partly under the current one.

So double the number under Labour.

Yes it did Maremia, 81 were accidentally released in the year of March 2022/23, 115 in 2023/24.
In the ending March 2025 it was 262, so partly under our previous government and partly under the current one.

Now we have prisoner Billy Smith released by accident! It just goes on and on.

I have just watched a former Prison Governor on TV talking about all the various stages a prisoner goes through before discharge. Starting with 14 days before discharge they go through 5 or 6 stages of checks right up to the moment they get to the prison gates and their ID is finally checked again by gate staff. So something is clearly very wrong.

It's not surprising at all since erroneous releases average one a day.
Releases are done during office hours ie Mon to Fri.

They had to cut back on staff and cry when this happens! Pathetic!

CaLAMMYty would not answer the simple question whether any other prisoners have been inadvertently released from prison. However, he managed to say he is outraged, again!

Did this ever happen before Labour came to power?

Rory Stewart's book on life as an MP - "Politics on the Edge", is not only a good read, but particularly interesting on his time as Minister of State for Prisons..... and also on the musical chairs involved each time a new Conservative Prime Minister came into post during their 2010-2014 term of government......

NotSpaghetti

Spinnaker

Yes, and only an hour earlier David Lammy refused six times to answer the question whether any others had been mistakenly released since Hadush Kabatu was a couple of weeks ago. Ye Gods !!!

He refused to answer if an immigrant (or maybe asylum seeker?) was released.
There have been answers subsequently.

I haven't seen any dangerous knifeman info LovesBach

The text below is lifted from the London Evening Standard. Local Radio this morning described him as dangerous.

'A foreign prisoner convicted of flashing in a London park and possession of a knife is on the run after being wrongly let go from HMP Wandsworth'

Yes, I can easily believe it - the prison system has neither system nor organisation about it, so it appears.

I expect the abscondee simply rolled up at the gates and said "I am Shabana Mahmood and I am the Home Secretary. Let me out."

Hey presto!

I think maybe the media coverage of the two publicised accidental releases has coincided with the reporting of the separate violent "knifeman" incidents...
Maybe that's what uou are thinking?

Spinnaker

Yes, and only an hour earlier David Lammy refused six times to answer the question whether any others had been mistakenly released since Hadush Kabatu was a couple of weeks ago. Ye Gods !!!

He refused to answer if an immigrant (or maybe asylum seeker?) was released.
There have been answers subsequently.

I haven't seen any dangerous knifeman info LovesBach

DamaskRose

LovesBach

This is evidently a 'dangerous knifeman'. Is anyone paying attention to what they are doing at these various prisons? There must be a procedure of checks at different levels, and it's hard to see how it is failing so often.

Really? The prison service is, and has been for a long time, in crisis. Overcrowded and understaffed. I should think they are doing the best they can in very difficult circumstances.

well I pray that there won't be another victim before he's caught, or that excuse won't work

LovesBach

This is evidently a 'dangerous knifeman'. Is anyone paying attention to what they are doing at these various prisons? There must be a procedure of checks at different levels, and it's hard to see how it is failing so often.

Really? The prison service is, and has been for a long time, in crisis. Overcrowded and understaffed. I should think they are doing the best they can in very difficult circumstances.

This is evidently a 'dangerous knifeman'. Is anyone paying attention to what they are doing at these various prisons? There must be a procedure of checks at different levels, and it's hard to see how it is failing so often.

Yes - it seems mistaken releases are not unusual.