Two mistakenly released prisoners still at large, says justice secretary

Twelve much prisoners person been mistakenly released from situation implicit the past month, David Lammy has confirmed - and 2 stay astatine large.

Speaking to Mornings with Ridge and Frost, the justness caput admitted that determination person been further prisoners accidentally freed since helium made a connection connected the contented past month.

Pushed connected however galore much radical person been wrongly fto retired since his update to MPs connected 11 November, Mr Lammy responded: "There person been two."

But helium aboriginal clarified to the BBC afterwards that "there person been 12 [mistaken releases] since then, 2 are presently astatine large".

At the time, helium said 91 radical had been mistakenly freed from prisons successful England and Wales since April this year.

Mr Lammy told Sky News: "There person been releases successful mistake since I made that statement, but I privation to convey that the inclination this twelvemonth is fortunately downwards.

"There are 2 radical presently astatine large... and a situation strategy that is paper-based. Mistakes happen."

But pushed for much item connected these mistaken releases, Mr Lammy said helium doesn't privation to springiness a "running commentary".

He said: "It's important that I merchandise that information successful the mode that it's ever been released. And it's besides important that I enactment with constabulary wherever idiosyncratic is astatine large, and sometimes due to the fact that the constabulary are astir to nab somebody, they really don't privation maine to sermon it, and it's important that they get connected to it."

Reacting to Mr Lammy's admission, the shadiness justness secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: "Calamity Lammy admits 2 much unsafe prisoners person been mistakenly released.

"But helium won't accidental who they are oregon wherever they are. When volition this fiasco end?"

Following the justness secretary's admittance to the BBC, Mr Jenrick added: "Fifteen minutes later, Calamity says 12 prisoners person successful information been released by mistake, not two.

"Twelve successful 3 weeks. So the occupation has got worse since helium intervened.

"This is simply a full shambles."