A prison staff member has been suspended in what is deemed an unjust manner following the inadvertent release of a migrant sex offender from prison, according to a union leader. Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was released in error from HMP Chelmsford on Friday instead of being transferred to an immigration detention center. This mistake allowed Kebatu to travel to London before being re-apprehended on Sunday.
After completing his sentence for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl, Kebatu is scheduled for deportation to Ethiopia this week. Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered an independent investigation into the incident. Mark Fairhurst, the national chairman of the prison officers’ union, expressed deep regret over the error, highlighting the impact on the suspended staff member and the breakdown in the release process.
Lammy informed lawmakers that Kebatu would be swiftly deported to Ethiopia, emphasizing the outrage felt by his victims and the public. He stressed the need for accountability and swift action to prevent similar errors that jeopardize public safety. Dame Lynn Owens, a former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Kebatu’s mistaken release and assessing its repercussions on the victims.
Enhanced measures, including heightened oversight and detailed checklists for prison governors, will be implemented to prevent erroneous releases. Foreign nationals awaiting deportation will now only be released in the presence of a duty governor, and deportations from HMP Chelmsford have been halted temporarily. Lammy disclosed that mistaken releases have been on the rise, with an increase in incidents from an average of nine per month in 2023 to 17 per month in the first half of 2024.