David Lammy admits another 12 prisoners accidentally released in last month - and two STILL at large

Mr Lammy told Sky News the data should be released "in the way it's always been released."

He said: "It's also important that I work with police where someone is at large. Sometimes because the police are about to nab somebody, they actually don't want me to discuss it."

He then confirmed: "There are two people currently at large."

There have been 12 further accidental releases of prisoners since November, the Justice Secretary confirmed. Earlier data showed 91 accidental releases took place between April 1 and October 31 this year.

David Lammy told the BBC: "I said to Parliament a few weeks ago, I released data at that point, and there had been 91 releases in error up to that point, there have been 12 since then, two are currently at large."

He said he was “pleased that the trend is downwards” after he put some improvements in place in the system, as he is due to reveal sweeping reforms to the justice system later today.

Mr Lammy has faced calls to resign after the accidental release of Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu, who was sentenced to 12 months in prison in September for sexual assault in Epping.

The latest data suggests the number of prisoners who have been let out in error rose, increasing from 115 in 2023-2024 to 262 in the following year.

Speaking in the House of Lords last month, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson said: "Releases in error are symptomatic of a system stretched to its limits.

"Prisons are full, almost to breaking point, which makes them an even more challenging environment. I pay tribute to the prison staff working under incredibly difficult circumstances.

"What we are talking about here is a paper-based system, with individual prisoners’ sentences worked out every time they arrive to a new prison."

Highlighting cuts to prison staff under the previous Tory government, the minister said: "That is around 6,000 fewer people. The knock-on effect is that, today, over half of frontline prison staff have less than five years’ experience. That makes mistakes more likely."

Lord Timpson continued went on: "The previous Government had 14 years to sort this problem out.

"The reason they did not is not because they did not try, it is because it is a complex and difficult task.

"I have taken on this challenge and what we are putting together is a sensible and achievable plan.”

Labour former home secretary Lord Reid of Cardowan said: "I am certain that under previous secretaries of state for justice and home secretaries, including me, there have been frequent inadvertent releases of prisoners."

Former top legal adviser to successive prime ministers Lord Carter of Haslemere said: "Prisoners have been released in error for decades. I know because I used to advise on sentence calculation in the 1990s in the Home Office legal advisers branch and I was the Prison Service legal adviser.

"It was difficult then, it is now fiendishly difficult because of all the changes to the statute book that have happened since.”

The independent crossbencher added: "The statute book is a total mess as far as trying to calculate when a release date applies for a particular prisoner.

"Prisoners are all in a different position. Some have additional days, some have served a different remand time."