Prisons Cannot Be Resolved Immediately, Minister Says, as Police Hunt For Two Men Mistakenly Freed
Shadow justice secretary the shadow minister has described the situation as a "complete and utter mess," speaking earlier today.
Appearing on a broadcast interview, he pointed to comments made by David Lammy after a previous inmate discharge, stating that the minister would establish stricter checks.
"It took almost a week for the corrections department supposedly to even become aware this has happened" and notify the authorities, the shadow official says, "who are now a week behind in the manhunt to find him."
The opposition figure condemns Lammy's handling during yesterday's parliamentary questions and alleges him of a "total dereliction of duty."
Addressing mistaken inmate discharges more generally, Jenrick underlines that "each mistaken discharge [...] is unacceptable."
He admits there were similar incidents under the former administration, but says the number "has increased dramatically" under Labour.
Advocating additional correctional facilities to be built, he continues: "The public expect now are adequate safeguards implemented."
"This represents a specific bureaucratic error by the Ministry of Justice supervised by David Lammy," the opposition member concludes.
- A timeline detailing how the most recent incorrect inmate discharge developed is available elsewhere.
