UK Justice Blunder: 179 Prisoners Wrongly Freed in a Year
New data from the Ministry of Justice reveals that 179 inmates in England and Wales were released by mistake between April 2025 and March 2026. Officials blame misplaced warrants, miscalculated sentences, and administrative errors by courts and other authorities. Several high-profile cases prompted scrutiny of release procedures. One man meant for immigration detention was accidentally freed and later spotted travelling in London, triggering a manhunt. Two others released from HMP Wandsworth have since been returned to custody. The Justice Department says inmates unaware of the error who make no attempt to evade authorities commit no additional offence. However, deliberate identity manipulation is treated as an escape. The government has pledged to tighten release processes to prevent future mistakes.
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