Police hunt for Algerian man accidentally released from prison

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London’s Metropolitan Police has said it is carrying out “urgent enquiries” to track down an Algerian man on the run from Wandsworth prison after he was accidentally released despite new safeguards following the mistaken release of an asylum seeker.

The Met said it was alerted shortly after 1pm on Tuesday to the accidental release, which had taken place the previous Wednesday, October 29.

The release comes after David Lammy, justice secretary and deputy prime minister, on October 27 announced new checks on the release of foreign prisoners after prison officers in Chelmsford mistakenly released Hadush Kebatu, who had been convicted of sexual assault while staying at the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Before news of the release was made public, Lammy, who was filling in for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, was asked multiple times by shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge if he was aware of any further accidental releases of foreign prisoners since Kebatu. 

Lammy repeatedly declined to answer, responding with attacks on the Conservatives’ record on prisons during their 14 years in power and suggesting Cartlidge should “get a grip” for repeating the question. 

Under new rules following Kebatu’s accidental release, the duty governor of a prison has to be present when any foreign prisoner is released and a checklist has to be followed.

The officers in Chelmsford released Kebatu, originally from Ethiopia, from prison on October 24, instead of transferring him to immigration detention for deportation. He was recaptured on October 26 in London.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s spokesperson said the party found out about the accidental release about 15 minutes before PMQs.

“If we knew, then presumably the justice secretary knew too,” the spokesperson said. 

“We were giving the justice secretary the opportunity to front it up . . . it seems we are more across the facts than Number 10. 

“He had five opportunities to tell the public what was going on and ducked them each time, so we think he should come back to the house to explain as soon as possible.”

Lammy said he was “absolutely outraged and appalled” by the mistaken release. 

“Victims deserve better and the public deserve answers,” he said. “This latest incident exposes deeper flaws across the failing criminal justice system we inherited.”

The Liberal Democrats demanded Lammy return to the Commons on Wednesday afternoon to explain why he had not answered the question about the issue during PMQs.

It was not clear why it took six days for the Met to be made aware of last week’s accidental release.

The Ministry of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Met said: “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.”