Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is under mounting pressure to explain a series of prison release errors that have left criminals free in the community.
MPs, the public, and even members of his own party are calling for clarity—and some are openly questioning whether he is fit for the role.
The spotlight comes ahead of Lammy’s scheduled appearance in the House of Commons for a routine Q&A session, following a turbulent Prime Minister’s Questions last week where he struggled to answer concerns about further accidental releases.
Shadow Justice Secretary Previews Hard Questions
In an unusual move, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has made public the questions he intends to put to Lammy during tomorrow’s Commons session.
In an open letter, tweeted earlier today, Jenrick wrote:
“You have failed to give any answers. Tomorrow, in Parliament, I will once again ask basic questions that any competent Lord Chancellor would know the answers to: How many prisoners have been accidentally released since April 1, 2025? How many are still at large? Who has been released and how many are violent or sexual offenders?”
Jenrick warned that if Lammy refuses to provide the information again, “the only remaining conclusion is that you are incapable of telling the truth.
In which case, you must make way for someone who will.”
High-Profile Release Cases Spark Outrage
The controversy escalated after Hadush Kebatu, a sex offender staying at a migrant hotel in Epping, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 24.
A two-day manhunt ended with his arrest in north London.
Lammy also faced criticism for failing to mention during PMQs that Algerian criminal Brahim Kaddour-Cherif had been released in error.
Kaddour-Cherif, serving time for trespass with intent to steal and with a previous indecent exposure conviction, was at large for six days before police were notified.
Lammy defended his decision, saying he was “not equipped with all of the detail” at the time and wanted to avoid misleading the House.
Adding to the list of blunders, fraudster William ‘Billy’ Smith, 35, was released from HMP Wandsworth on the day he was due to start a 45-month sentence due to a clerical error. He later handed himself back in.
Jenrick Calls Blunders the Tip of the Iceberg
Jenrick described the recent accidental releases as “just the tip of the iceberg,” insisting the public deserves to know the full scale of the security crisis in Britain’s prisons.
Ministry of Justice data shows that 262 prisoners were freed in error in the year to March, a 128 percent increase from the previous 12 months.
The Shadow Secretary has repeatedly pressed Lammy to provide updated figures since April, including a detailed breakdown of the cases, which could indicate whether the situation has worsened under Labour.
Early Release Scheme Under Fire
Ex-chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick has suggested the surge in errors is linked to Labour’s early release programme, which allows most offenders to be freed after serving 40 percent of their sentences instead of 50 percent.
More than 38,000 criminals have been released early under the scheme, leading to confusion in the prison system.
Hardwick explained that outdated computer systems force prison officers to calculate and recalculate sentences using pen and paper, increasing the likelihood of errors.
Lammy’s appearance tomorrow is expected to focus almost entirely on these prison gaffes, as MPs seek answers on the scale, oversight, and future of Britain’s early release policies.