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 has announced plans to implement biometric verification systems in prisons following the revelation that 179 individuals were incorrectly released in the year ending March. This decision comes amid criticism from an independent assessment that labeled recent errors as “simply one symptom of a broken system,” according to the report. The review, led by Dame Lynne Owens, was initiated after Hadush Kebatu was wrongly 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.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy emphasized the need for systemic change, stating that the review confirmed the “unacceptable” increase in erroneous releases. He pledged to modernize the prison system by introducing biometric technologies within six months, with a full implementation expected before the end of the current parliamentary term. The initiative will cost £82 million, including £20 million allocated this year to digitize outdated paper-based procedures. Lammy also expressed “profound sympathies” to the victims of those released in error, particularly Hadush Kebatu’s victim, and mentioned meeting the victim’s family in December.

“The report highlighted an unacceptable increase in erroneous releases,” Lammy said, adding that the government aims to “bring the prison system into the 21st century.”

Kebatu’s release triggered a high-profile manhunt, as he was initially detained but then freed instead of being sent to a deportation center. His arrest had sparked protests near the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he resided, over the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers. Demonstrations quickly expanded nationwide. After two days, Kebatu was re-arrested and deported to Ethiopia.

Within a fortnight of Kebatu’s release, two additional men were found to have been freed mistakenly—both from London’s HMP Wandsworth. Police efforts led to William Smith surrendering himself, while Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was re-arrested. In response, the government introduced new security protocols, such as a “clear checklist” for governors, and commissioned Dame Lynne’s review to prevent similar incidents.

The Ministry of Justice noted that releases in error can result from misplaced warrants, miscalculated sentences, or oversights by courts and other agencies. While the 179 errors in the latest period represent a decline from the 262 recorded the previous year, the figure remains higher than the 115 in 2023-24.