A manhunt has been launched for a migrant prisoner who was released by mistake from Wandsworth prison.
The Algerian convict, 24, is understood to have been serving time for trespass with an intent to steal but has previously committed sexual offences.
The error at the prison in south London happened on October 29 but the mistake was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday.
It comes after migrant sex attacker Hadush Kebatu was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 24.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy had vowed to increase checks on prisoners being released following Kebatu’s accidental release.
It is unclear why the police have only now been informed that the unnamed Algerian prisoner is currently at large. His identity is yet to be made public.
The Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail: ‘Shortly after 1pm on Tuesday 4 November, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 29 October.
‘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.’
A manhunt has been launched for an Algerian prisoner who was released by mistake from Wandsworth prison (file photo)
Hedush Kebatu was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre
The news emerged as David Lammy refused to answer multiple questions from James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary today on whether any more asylum-seeking offenders had been wrongly released from prison since Kebatu.
Mr Cartlidge said: ‘People in Epping and right across the country want to know the answer. I’m going to ask him again.
‘He’s the Justice Secretary, can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?’
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy said: ‘I spent 14 years in opposition and I did a hell of a lot better than he’s just done.
‘I have answered the question. Under their watch, prisons were in a mess. Suicides went up. Prison officer cut – 20,000 neighbourhood police lost.
‘We’ve deported more in the last year than they deported in the last five years. I’m not going to take any lecture from the honourable gentleman.’
Addressing Mr Lammy, Mr Cartlidge said: ‘He’s the Justice Secretary. He’s responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility.
‘And I’m going to repeat it once more for the avoidance of doubt, because he did not answer it twice.
‘Can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum-seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?’
Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar Alex Burghart reacted on X to the news of the release
A woman with a Union Jack flag protests near The Bell Hotel, following the mistaken release of Kebatu
Mr Lammy, who stood in for Sir Keir Starmer, responded: ‘Get a grip, man, I know I’m the Justice Secretary, that’s why I’m at the despatch box.’
‘We know that there have been spikes since 2021 under his watch. When did he come to this House and apologise?’
It comes as the number of prisoners released in error more than doubled in the year leading up to March, government figures show.
A report by the prison service said 262 inmates were freed by mistake in this period, compared to just 115 in the year to March 2024.
The Prime Minister was not aware of the second migrant wrongly released from prison until the Metropolitan Police announcement, Downing Street suggested.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters on Wednesday: ‘The Met have released a statement I think in the last few minutes.’
He said ‘one mistaken release is one too many’ and that the case was ‘utterly unacceptable’.
The official could not say when Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy became aware of the release, after he refused to answer multiple questions in the Chamber on whether another asylum-seeking offender had been mistakenly freed from prison since Hadush Kebatu.
This is a breaking news story – more to follow
