David Lammy announces urgent probe into 'farcical' Kebatu release as he announces radical overhaul of release rules

Addressing MPs four days after the Ethiopian sex offender was accidentally freed from HMP Chelmsford, he blamed "human error" for the mix-up.

He further confirmed that His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service are now investigating the matter, adding that victims will be spoken to as part of the probe.

Former Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Dame Lynne Owens is due to chair an independent inquiry into the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu, Mr Lammy confirmed.

He added that "any foreign national offender being removed through the early removal scheme can now only be discharged when the duty governor is physically present and there will be no errors".

The early removal scheme was originally meant to remove Hadush Kebatu from the UK, when he was meant to be sent to the detention centre on Friday.

In the Commons, he continued: "Due to what appears to have been human error, he was instead released into the community at 10.25am.

"Shortly after 12pm, concerns were raised about the release to the duty governor and, following checks, staff were dispatched to locate him."

When it was clear that the convict was "no longer in the vicinity of the prison", Essex Police were informed, which was quickly followed by a manhunt.

Mr Lammy said: "His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service instigated an immediate investigation, and I’ve asked the initial findings to be with me this week."

The Deputy Prime Minister further announced that there will be no releases under Early Removal Scheme from HMP Chelmsford for the rest of the week.

"Any foreign nationals who can be removed through the early removal scheme, the scheme through which Kebatu was supposed to be removed from the country, can now only be discharged when the duty governor is physically present," he said.

Delivering a scathing assessment, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick hit back, saying that "the only illegal migrants this Government are stopping are those that actually want to leave the UK".

Mr Jenrick told the Commons: "Dear oh dear. Where to begin? This Justice Secretary could not deport the only small boat migrant who wanted – no – who tried to be deported.

"Having been mistakenly released, Hadush Kebatu came back to prison asking to be deported not once, not twice, but five times, but he was turned away.

"The only illegal migrants this Government are stopping are those that actually want to leave the UK."

Mr Lammy subsequently erupted in laughter as the Newark MP slammed: "Calamity Lammy strikes again. It’s a national embarrassment, and today the Justice Secretary feigns anger at what happened."

Mr Jenrick further grilled the Labour minister. asking if he would resign if Kebatu is not deported "by the end of the week".

The Shadow Justice Secretary claimed that "Kebatu would never have even stepped foot in prison in the first place" under Government "plans to abolish short prison sentences".

"We had the spectacle of the Metropolitan Police scouring London to find a man the Justice Secretary is simultaneously legislating to avoid sending to prison," Mr Jenrick continued. "What an absolute farce."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter