David Lammy has expressed strong disapproval over the wrongful release of 179 prisoners in the past year and has committed to revamping the outdated prison system. As the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Lammy introduced a new digital identity system called Justice ID to monitor individuals throughout their journey in the prison system, from arrest to release back into the community.
Under this new system, all prisoners will undergo biometric identification checks, including fingerprints and facial scans, at crucial junctures such as release from custody. An allocation of £82 million has been earmarked to reduce release errors.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) highlighted the deficiencies in the current system, which allows criminals to use multiple aliases, leading to confusion and errors that result in premature releases. Dame Lynne Owens, a former Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner, addressed these issues in her independent review of wrongful prisoner releases, initiated following the improper release of Hadush Kebatu, a deported migrant involved in a criminal case in Epping, Essex.
Dame Lynne’s report pointed out flaws in communication among staff at HMP Chelmsford, where Kebatu was wrongly released, and criticized the lack of coordination between physical paperwork and digital records. She emphasized the importance of contacting victims before misinformation spreads on social media and stressed the need for transparency and accountability at all levels of decision-making.
The data released by the MoJ revealed that the 179 erroneous releases occurred between April 2025 and March 2026, stemming from various issues such as misplaced warrants and sentence miscalculations.
In response to Dame Lynne’s findings, Lammy acknowledged the systemic failures that have accumulated over years of neglect and overcrowding in the prison and court systems. He outlined ongoing efforts to modernize the prison system, including the implementation of biometrics, the Justice ID system, and substantial funding to prevent future errors and ensure public safety.