Prisoner Arrested After Mistaken Release; Inquiry Launched

Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu, who was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford instead of being transferred to immigration detention, was the subject of a 48-hour manhunt that ended with his arrest in Finsbury Park on Sunday. Kebatu was jailed in September for 12 months for sexually assaulting a 14‑year‑old girl and a woman. Justice Secretary David Lammy has launched an independent investigation, to be chaired by Dame Lynne Owens and due to report within weeks, to examine staffing, training, technology and procedural failures and to make recommendations to prevent repeat errors. Lammy said the release appeared to be human error, pledged tightened safeguards including that foreign nationals due for removal can only be discharged when the duty governor is physically present, and said Kebatu will be deported "imminently" after police questioning. Government figures show releases-in-error have risen in recent years, a trend politicians and campaigners have linked to staffing cuts and underinvestment in the prison system.