Migrant released in error could be deported today - as plan to use military barracks confirmed

An asylum seeker who was accidentally released portion serving a condemnation for intersexual offences could beryllium deported from the UK arsenic aboriginal arsenic today.

Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford connected Friday - sparking a manhunt - with the Metropolitan Police arresting him successful Finsbury Park connected Sunday.

Justice Secretary David Lammy has confirmed determination volition beryllium an autarkic probe into what happened and said "human error" was to blasted for the incident.

But the Prison Officers' Association (POA) has warned it volition "not judge immoderate scapegoating of staff" - and claims it has highlighted "a terrible deficiency of training" for astatine slightest a decade.

Mark Fairhurst, the union's nationalist chair, said: "The unit connected unit is intolerable, and this volition inevitably pb to mistakes.

"These issues should person been addressed a agelong clip ago, but arsenic usual, our leader waits for a header and past acts."

The POA has warned this could hap again successful the aboriginal due to the fact that prisons are understaffed and overcrowded.

One subordinate of unit astatine HMP Chelmsford has been suspended pending an investigation, with immoderate MPs calling for the prison's politician to measurement down if they are recovered astatine fault.

Kebatu was recovered blameworthy successful September of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old miss and a pistillate successful Epping - astir a week aft helium arrived successful the UK connected a tiny boat.

He had been staying astatine The Bell Hotel, which was being utilized to accommodate asylum seekers, and the lawsuit sparked weeks of protests implicit the summer.

In the Commons yesterday, Mr Lammy said helium was "livid" connected behalf of Kebatu's victims - and vowed helium would beryllium deported backmost to Ethiopia "as rapidly arsenic possible".

He dismissed Conservative MPs who asked whether helium would resign implicit the issue, describing this arsenic a "ridiculous question".

The lawman premier curate added helium has ordered an "urgent review" into the checks that instrumentality spot erstwhile an offender is freed, and caller safeguards person been added.

From present on, overseas criminals facing deportation will lone beryllium capable to beryllium released erstwhile a work politician is physically present.

But with a situation work root telling Sky's Mollie Malone that these checks could instrumentality unit an other 30 to 40 minutes, erstwhile politician Pia Sinha has warned: "The solution is not adding much administrative burden."

Data shows 262 prisoners successful England and Wales were released successful mistake successful the 12 months to March 2025 - a 128% summation connected the erstwhile year.

Read more:
How manhunt for Kebatu unfolded
'Billions wasted connected asylum hotels'

Military sites to regenerate hotels

In different developments, the Home Office has confirmed that hundreds of migrants volition beryllium moved to subject sites arsenic the authorities tries to halt the usage of asylum hotels.

About 900 men volition beryllium temporarily based astatine Cameron Barracks successful Inverness, and Crowborough Training Camp successful East Sussex.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are furious astatine the level of amerciable migrants and asylum hotels. This authorities volition adjacent each asylum hotel.

"Work is good nether way, with much suitable sites being brought guardant to easiness unit connected communities and chopped asylum costs."

Military and concern sites - arsenic good arsenic impermanent facilities and disused accommodation - are besides being considered arsenic officials measurement up enactment to find alternatives.

The plans were archetypal mooted by the defence caput past month.