Biometric checks to be rolled out in prisons after mistaken releases
Biometric checks to be rolled out in prisons after mistaken releases
The UK government announced plans to implement biometric systems in prisons following the revelation that 179 individuals were incorrectly released during the year ending March. This decision came after an independent review highlighted the “unacceptable” increase in errors, describing them as “simply one symptom of a broken system.”
Review and Key Case
The review was initiated after Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly freed from an Essex prison in October 2025. Kebatu had been incarcerated for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman while staying in an asylum hotel. The incident sparked a high-profile manhunt, with police searching for him after he was initially detained and then released.
“The findings make clear the unacceptable rise in mistaken releases,” said Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, emphasizing the need to modernize the prison system.
Statistical Trends
The number of erroneous releases in England and Wales fell from 262 the previous year to 179, yet it remains higher than the 115 recorded in 2023-24. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) explained that such errors can arise from misplaced warrants, miscalculated sentences, or missteps by courts and other authorities.
Government Response
Lammy pledged to adopt all 33 recommendations from Dame Lynne Owens’s report, including trials of fingerprint and facial recognition technologies within six months. A full rollout is expected before the end of the current parliament, supported by a £82m investment aimed at reducing errors and enhancing public safety.
The budget includes £20m this year to transition from paper-based processes to digital systems, alongside increased staff and verification protocols. Lammy also expressed “profound sympathies to the victims of those prisoners who were released in error, especially to Hadush Kebatu’s victim,” and noted meeting the victim’s family in December.
Follow-Up Incidents
Within two weeks of Kebatu’s release, two additional men from HMP Wandsworth were freed by mistake. William Smith surrendered to authorities after a police search, while Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was re-arrested. These events prompted the government to introduce a “clear checklist” for prison governors and commission Dame Lynne’s review to prevent future errors.
Public Reaction
Kebatu’s initial arrest had drawn protests near the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he resided as an asylum seeker. Demonstrations quickly expanded across the country, reflecting public concern over the use of hotels for detaining prisoners. His subsequent deportation to Ethiopia followed a two-day search after he was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford.
