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A System in Crisis

The Erroneous Release of Hadush Kebatu and the Questions Facing Britain's Prisons

Monday, 27 October 2025 22:06

Abstract

The mistaken release of a convicted sex offender from HMP Chelmsford triggered a nationwide manhunt and exposed deep-seated issues within the UK's prison and deportation systems. An independent inquiry has now been launched by Justice Secretary David Lammy to understand the critical failure that allowed Hadush Kebatu to walk free, placing intense scrutiny on the management of foreign national offenders and the state of a prison service under immense pressure.

The Man Who Walked Free

On the morning of 24 October 2025, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was scheduled to be transferred from HMP Chelmsford to an immigration removal centre.15 Instead, due to what officials have described as 'human error', he was released into the community at 10:25 AM.15 Kebatu had been sentenced to 12 months in prison in September for sexual offences, including the assault of a 14-year-old girl, and was due for deportation under the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) for foreign national offenders.6,8,10,11,13,17,23 The error was not realised until shortly after midday, by which time Kebatu had left the vicinity of the prison.15 He boarded a train to London, disembarking at Stratford just after 1:00 PM.2,21 This initiated a frantic two-day manhunt involving three police forces: Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, and the British Transport Police.2 The search concluded at around 8:30 AM on 26 October, when Kebatu was arrested in the Finsbury Park area of London following a tip-off from a member of the public.3,4,5 Reports emerged that a confused Kebatu had attempted to return to the prison several times after his release, only to be turned away by staff.8,15,28

A Path to Offending

Hadush Kebatu, 38, had arrived in the UK on a small boat on 29 June 2025, having travelled through several countries.3,4,5 He was housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which was being used to accommodate asylum seekers.6,8,10,11 Just eight days after his arrival, on 7 July, he made sexually explicit comments to a 14-year-old girl and attempted to kiss her.3,4,5,10,11 The following day, he sexually assaulted a woman and again tried to kiss her, before encountering the same teenage girl and sexually assaulting her.3,4,5,11 The woman who had been assaulted saw the second incident and called the police, leading to his arrest.3,4,5 In September, Kebatu was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and harassment without violence.4 He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.4 His case had already drawn significant public attention, sparking protests and counter-protests outside the Bell Hotel.2,8,21,32

An Inquiry and Immediate Reforms

The political fallout from the mistaken release was immediate and severe.6,27 Justice Secretary David Lammy announced the launch of an independent inquiry into the incident, describing himself as 'livid' on behalf of the victims and the public.6,8,9,10,15 He stated that the release was a 'mistake which should not have happened'.6,10,15 The inquiry is to be chaired by Dame Lynne Owens, a former Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Director General of the National Crime Agency.7,9,12,23,30,32 Its remit is to establish the full facts of the case, assess whether protocols were followed and if staff had sufficient resources, and make recommendations to prevent future errors.9 The report is expected within eight weeks.9,12 In the interim, Lammy announced immediate measures to tighten release procedures for foreign inmates.6,9 These include a new five-page checklist for governors, enhanced checks on prisoner details including tattoos and scars against photographs, and a requirement for a duty governor to be physically present for the release of any foreign national under the ERS.7,10,23 Furthermore, all releases from HMP Chelmsford under the ERS were suspended for the remainder of that week.8,15,30,32

A System Under Strain

The erroneous release of Kebatu has cast a harsh light on the pressures within His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service.7 The incident is not an isolated one; government figures published in July 2025 revealed that 262 prisoners had been released in error in the year to March 2025, a 128% increase from the 115 in the previous year.7,13 David Lammy noted that releases in error have been rising year on year since 2021, from an average of nine per month in 2023 to 17 per month between January and June 2024.8,15,23,30 Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, described such mistakes as an 'endemic problem' and 'symptomatic of the chaos' within the system.7,13,33 The Prison Officers' Association (POA) warned against scapegoating a single member of staff, noting that a custodial manager had been suspended even though more senior staff are involved in the multi-layered release verification process.7,13,33 The union and prison governors have pointed to systemic issues, including a 30% cut in prison staffing under the previous government and the fact that more than half of frontline officers have less than five years' experience.7 The Prison Governors' Association stated that a 'checklist won't cut it' and called for reinvestment after years of austerity.7

The Politics of Blame

The political response was highly charged, with the government and opposition trading blame.6,28 Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick labelled the incident a 'national embarrassment' and the 'Kebatu fiasco' as being of 'Labour's own making', dubbing the Justice Secretary 'calamity Lammy'.6,28,32 Jenrick highlighted the irony that Kebatu had seemingly tried to return to prison to be deported, claiming the government was stopping the 'only illegal migrants that actually want to leave the UK'.28 Lammy, in turn, pointed to the legacy of the previous Conservative government, citing the reduction in prison staff and the increasing complexity and pressure on the system as contributing factors that make errors more likely.7,15 The case also reignited debates about the management of foreign national offenders, who constitute around 12% of the total prison population.22 The Early Removal Scheme, under which Kebatu was due to be deported, allows for the removal of foreign prisoners up to 18 months before their earliest release date to ease pressure on prisons.16,24

Conclusion

The recapture of Hadush Kebatu brought a manhunt to a close, but it opened a period of intense scrutiny for the UK's justice system.2,3 The independent inquiry led by Dame Lynne Owens is tasked with providing answers not only for this specific failure but also for the alarming rise in erroneous releases across the prison estate.7,9,12 The incident has exposed the fragility of a system grappling with staff shortages, inexperience, and overcrowding.7 For the victims of Kebatu's crimes, the event was a source of significant stress and anxiety, and a feeling of being failed by the state.17 The father of the 14-year-old victim described the release as 'unbelievably irresponsible' and said his family felt 'massively let down'.17,18 As the inquiry proceeds, the questions it must address are fundamental: how to ensure such a dangerous error is not repeated, and how to restore public confidence in a critical public service that appears to be buckling under pressure.6,9 Kebatu is now expected to be deported to Ethiopia imminently, but the systemic vulnerabilities his case has laid bare will remain long after his departure.6,10,18

References

  1. Current time information in Dumfries and Galloway, GB

    Provides the current date for context, although not directly cited in the article's content.

  2. Timeline of how manhunt for wrongly released sex offender migrant Hadush Kebatu unfolded - Yahoo News UK

    This source provides a detailed timeline of Kebatu's movements after his release, the police response, and his eventual capture, which is used to construct the narrative of the manhunt.

  3. Timeline of events in case of asylum seeker who was released accidentally | The Standard

    Offers a comprehensive timeline of events from Kebatu's arrival in the UK to his arrest, including details of his crimes. This information is crucial for the background section.

  4. Timeline after Essex hotel asylum seeker freed from jail by accident | Braintree and Witham Times

    Corroborates the timeline of Kebatu's arrival, offences, trial, and recapture. It also specifies the charges on which he was found guilty and the details of his sentence.

  5. Timeline of events in case of asylum seeker who was released accidentally

    This source provides another detailed timeline, confirming key dates and events related to Kebatu's arrival, crimes, and the manhunt, ensuring accuracy through cross-referencing.

  6. 'Human error' by a prison officer led to Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu being wrongly freed, says Lammy - Evening Standard

    Details Justice Secretary David Lammy's statement to the Commons, attributing the release to 'human error', announcing the inquiry, and outlining the plan for Kebatu's deportation. It also includes the political reaction from Robert Jenrick.

  7. Ministers warned not to scapegoat prison staff over mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu - The Guardian

    Provides critical context on the systemic issues within the prison service, including quotes from the Prison Officers' Association and the Chief Inspector of Prisons, statistics on rising errors, and details on staffing cuts.

  8. Who is Hadush Kebatu? David Lammy orders inquiry over sex offender's accidental release

    Summarises the key facts of the case, Lammy's announcement of the inquiry, the suspension of a prison officer, and the report that Kebatu tried to return to prison.

  9. Independent investigation and immediate reforms to prevent future releases in error

    This official government press release confirms the launch of the independent investigation, the appointment of Dame Lynne Owens, its terms of reference, and the immediate implementation of stronger release checks.

  10. 'Human error' led to mistaken release of migrant sex offender, Lammy says | ITV News

    Reports on David Lammy's statement, confirming the cause as 'human error', the plan for deportation, and the new checks being introduced for prisoner releases.

  11. Migrant sex offender mistakenly released from prison arrested - PA Media

    Details Kebatu's crimes, his mistaken release, and the subsequent political reaction, including statements from the Prime Minister and the victim's father.

  12. Five things we learned from David Lammy's Epping statement - New Statesman

    Provides analysis of David Lammy's parliamentary statement, confirming the details of the independent investigation led by Dame Lynne Owens and its eight-week timeline.

  13. Prison custody manager 'scapegoated' over bungled release of Hadush Kebatu, union claims | The Independent

    Highlights the view of the prison officers' union that a single employee was being scapegoated, and includes statistics on the significant increase in prisoners released in error.

  14. Clarke admits 'unacceptable failure' on deportations | UK news | The Guardian

    Although dated, this article provides historical context on long-standing administrative failures in the UK's system for deporting foreign prisoners, showing the issue is not new.

  15. David Lammy announces inquiry into accidental release of sex offender | The National

    Reports on Lammy's Commons statement, confirming the timeline of the release, the 'human error' cause, the inquiry, and Lammy's attribution of blame to the previous government's policies.

  16. Deportation of foreign national offenders - UK Parliament

    This parliamentary research briefing explains the legal framework and policies for deporting foreign national offenders, including the Early Removal Scheme, providing essential context for the article.

  17. Hadush Kebatu's mistaken release caused victim, 14, 'so much stress and anxiety' - ITVX

    Provides the crucial perspective of the victim's family, detailing the impact of the erroneous release and their feeling of being let down by the justice system.

  18. Epping Asylum seeker arrested and 'will be deported' after being mistakenly released from prison | ITV News

    Confirms Kebatu's arrest and the government's intention to deport him. It also includes the victim's father's statement about being failed by the system.

  19. UK police arrest mistakenly released asylum-seeker whose sexual assault case sparked anti-migrant protests - Yahoo News Singapore

    Confirms the arrest and provides details of the manhunt, as well as the political context of the case fuelling anti-migrant demonstrations.

  20. The Early Removal Scheme for foreign national prisoners - ERS

    This official leaflet explains the Early Removal Scheme, which is central to understanding why Kebatu was being processed for release and deportation.

  21. Met police take over search for Epping sex offender after London sighting – as it happened

    Provides live updates on the manhunt, confirming Kebatu's movements to London and the involvement of the Metropolitan Police. It also details the protests his original case triggered.

  22. Foreign criminals to face immediate deportation - GOV.UK

    This government announcement provides context on the policy and statistics regarding foreign national offenders, including the proportion they make up of the prison population.

  23. Independent inquiry will 'help prevent further releases in error' – Lammy | This is Oxfordshire

    Reports on David Lammy's statement about the inquiry's purpose to prevent future errors and confirms the rising number of mistaken releases since 2021.

  24. Foreign national offenders in UK prisons: Powers to deport - House of Lords Library

    This House of Lords Library briefing provides authoritative background on the legal duty to consider deportation for foreign offenders and the schemes in place, such as the ERS.

  25. Home Office failure to deport foreign national offenders - Yorkshire Bylines

    This article discusses systemic failures in deporting foreign offenders, providing broader context on the challenges and inefficiencies within the system.

  26. The Early Removal Scheme (ERS) - GOV.UK

    This official Home Office document gives a detailed explanation of the Early Removal Scheme, its legal basis, and how it is administered, which is central to the Kebatu case.

  27. Sex offender who sparked summer riots seen boarding London-bound train after release error, police say | Immigration and asylum | The Guardian

    Details the initial news of the mistaken release, the police response, and the immediate political reaction from opposition figures like Robert Jenrick and Chris Philp.

  28. 'Calamity David Lammy Strikes Again' | Robert Jenrick DESTROYS Starmer's Justice Secretary - YouTube

    Provides direct quotes from Robert Jenrick's highly critical parliamentary response to David Lammy, which is essential for the 'Politics of Blame' section.

  29. In brief: Deportation and early removal of foreign national offenders - Commons Library

    This Commons Library briefing offers statistics on the number of foreign nationals in UK prisons and those subject to deportation, providing factual context for the scale of the issue.

  30. Independent inquiry will 'help prevent further releases in error' – Lammy

    Confirms details of the inquiry, the appointment of Dame Lynne Owens, and the rising statistics of erroneous releases, corroborating information from other sources.

  31. Foreign National Prisoners Member Guidance - GOV.UK

    Provides official guidance on the handling of foreign national prisoners, including the legal processes for deportation and the factors considered, offering background on the procedures that failed in this case.

  32. Independent inquiry will 'help prevent further releases in error' – Lammy | The Standard

    This article reports on the Commons debate, providing quotes from both David Lammy and Robert Jenrick, and confirms the suspension of a prison officer and the immediate changes to release protocols.

  33. Prison manager has been scapegoated over Hadush Kebatu's release, says union - Reddit

    This source, referencing a Guardian article, details the prison officers' union's position and quotes the Chief Inspector of Prisons on the systemic nature of release errors, explaining the multi-layered checking process.

  34. Manhunt continues in England for sex offender released from prison by mistake

    Reports on the initial stages of the manhunt and the political reaction, including the suspension of a prison officer and statements from the Prime Minister and opposition.

  35. Epping sex offender back in custody after release from prison in error - The Guardian

    Confirms Kebatu's rearrest and provides context from a prison source who described the incident as a 'disaster waiting to happen' due to staffing issues.