A Prison System Unravelling: When Clerical Mistakes Let Criminals Slip the Net
The past few days have seen Britain’s already fragile prison system facing more scrutiny from the public due to the unfortunate release of certain prisoners who have not yet completed their term and might still pose a danger to the public. Prison officials are blaming it on outdated filing systems, poor case management, and inadequate scrutiny. Up to four convicts erroneously released are still at large, inviting criticism from the general public who mostly believe England and Wales’ prison system lacks robustness and it’s not being managed effectively.
The period between 2024 and 2025 saw an increase in wrongfully discharged prisoners to 262 from the previous which was recorded at 115 (Justice Data, 2025). That is approximately a 127.8% increase in wrongful discharges over the two periods. The sharp increase has raised a lot of concerns and political outcry about the effectiveness of ministers presiding over the sector.
In a recent case, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a sex offender, was wrongfully discharged from HMP Wandsworth and remained a possible threat to the public for a Month. He was only apprehended on Friday, 6th November 2025, following a tip from a member of the public. The arrest happened a day after his fellow inmate from the same prison, William Smith – who had also been released in error – turned himself in.
Prior to these errors, HMP Chelmsford, Essex, released Hadush Kebatu, a sex offender, wrongfully. He has since been apprehended and deported to Ethiopia, his home country, without the right to return. These occurrences have been said to be part of an underlying systemic error which must be tackled head-on to rid this country of potential threats.
