A union leader has criticized the suspension of a prison staff member following the accidental release of a migrant sex offender from HMP Chelmsford. Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was mistakenly set free and traveled to London before being recaptured. Kebatu, who had served time for sexually assaulting a minor, is now facing deportation back to Ethiopia.
The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, has ordered an independent investigation into the incident. Mark Fairhurst, the national chairman of the prison officers’ union, expressed dismay over the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability in the release process.
Lammy acknowledged the human error that led to Kebatu’s release and stressed the importance of preventing similar mistakes in the future. Dame Lynn Owens has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the release, including speaking with Kebatu’s victims to understand the impact on them.
Enhanced procedures will now be implemented for all prisoner releases to prevent such errors, with increased oversight and detailed checklists to verify proper protocols are followed. Additionally, foreign nationals facing deportation will only be released in the presence of a duty governor, and removals from HMP Chelmsford have been halted temporarily.
The Justice Secretary highlighted a concerning trend of mistaken releases, prompting the urgent need for stricter controls to ensure public safety.