Migrant Released In Error Could Be Deported Today - As Plan To Use Military Barracks Confirmed - Beritaja

An asylum seeker who was accidentally released while serving a condemnation for intersexual offences could beryllium deported from the UK arsenic early 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 location will beryllium an independent investigation into what happened and said "human error" was to blasted for the incident.

But the Prison Officers' Association (POA) has warned it will "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 will inevitably lead to mistakes.

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

The POA has warned this could hap again successful the early because prisons are understaffed and overcrowded.

One personnel of unit astatine HMP Chelmsford has been suspended pending an investigation, pinch 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 woman and a female successful Epping - about a week aft he arrived successful the UK connected a mini boat.

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

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

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

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

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

But pinch a situation work root telling Sky's Mollie Malone that these checks could return 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 correction 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 switch hotels

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

About 900 men will 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 forbidden migrants and asylum hotels. This authorities will adjacent each asylum hotel.

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

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

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