Wandsworth Manhunt Latest: Search for Two Prisoners Freed by Mistake
Just days after migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly released, authorities are searching for two prisoners who were accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth and another prison. Recent statistics reveal 262 prisoners were released in error in the year leading up to March 2025.
Recent Escape Incidents
HMP Wandsworth in south London confirmed that a foreign prisoner was accidentally released on 29 October, only five days after Hadush Kebatu was freed from HMP Chelmsford in Essex.
Later, Surrey Police announced they are also seeking 35-year-old William Smith, who was mistakenly released on Monday due to a second error at the jail.
Rising Number of Release Errors
These incidents come despite Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy's promises to tighten prisoner release checks.
- Between March 2024 and March 2025, there were 262 mistaken prisoner releases.
- This represents a 128% increase compared to 115 errors in the previous year.
"Just hours after it was discovered a prisoner was on the run after being mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, the prison admits it has a second escapee."
Summary
The authorities continue their search for two prisoners accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth, highlighting a significant rise in mistaken inmate releases despite pledges for stricter controls.
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