Labour’s Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones has defended the Government’s response to a string of accidental prisoner releases, insisting that every error is “totally unacceptable”.
Speaking to GB News, the MP for Pontypridd said she shares the “fury and frustration” of viewers over repeated mistakes in the prison system.
Yesterday, it emerged that two inmates were accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth in London within the space of a week, increasing pressure on Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian sex offender, was let go on October 29, while convicted fraudster William “Billy” Smith was released in error on November 3.
Labour’s Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said she ‘can’t wave a magic wand’
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The Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police have confirmed that both men are being actively hunted.
Speaking to Britain’s News Channel, Ms Davies-Jones said: “Look, any prison release in error is totally unacceptable. I share the fury and frustration of your viewers that this has happened, and I completely understand why people are angry.
“But what’s important to recognise is that this is a symptom of the chronic crisis in our prisons that we have inherited, and it’s something we need to get to grips with.
“We can’t fix this overnight, but what we can do is put in immediate steps to support prison staff.
“Today, we’re bringing in a crack team of tech experts to help them manage the reams of paperwork they’re still dealing with in the 21st century, which is simply unbelievable.
“We are also bringing the governors together to discuss what more can be done on the ground to support staff.
“Meanwhile, Dame Lenore Owens is carrying out a rapid review to examine exactly how these mistakes have happened and to recommend measures to prevent them happening again.
“Ultimately, this isn’t going to be solved overnight. I cannot wave a magic wand and build more prisons instantly, but we are embarking on the largest prison building programme since the Victorian era.”
She added: “What we are doing is getting to grips with this because it is totally unacceptable. And I feel the fury.”
GB News host Ellie Costello responded: “But that argument isn’t holding any weight anymore, to just say, look, it’s your fault that we are making these mistakes?
“This is happening now under your watch. In fact, it’s got even worse.
“We hear from the Justice Secretary saying, ‘I have instituted the strongest release checks in prison possible’, and yet we get two releases in the same week, accidental releases in the same week. This is a farce.”
Ms Davies-Jones went on to say: “The facts matter here. When the Tories left office, around 17 prisoners were being released in error each month.
“That number has now risen to around 22 per month. But any accidental release, no matter the number, is completely unacceptable, and that is why immediate action is necessary.
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“The truth is, our prison system is in an absolute crisis, and human error is happening because officers are forced to deal with mountains of paperwork rather than having the technology and data they need to properly manage checks and balances on releases.
“That is exactly what we are addressing today, by bringing in specialist support and resources to ensure these mistakes are prevented in the future.”
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