Copyright independent
HMP Chelmsford mistakenly released a convicted sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, last week, leading to a national manhunt and the firing of an officer. This incident follows a similar error in June 2023 when the same prison was deceived by a fake email, purporting to be from the Royal Courts of Justice, into releasing fraudster Junead Ahmed. Ahmed was released after staff followed instructions from the fraudulent email, only realising the deception when further emails requested the release of other inmates. Justice Secretary David Lammy has now announced an inquiry and new mandatory security checklists for prisoner releases, though prison governors fear this will exacerbate staff workload. The number of prisoners accidentally released in the UK has doubled in the last year, with 262 cases reported, highlighting a growing systemic issue within the prison system.
