A major error has been identified in the UK's penitentiary system - in a year from March 2024 to March 2025, more than 260 convicts were released due to an incorrect decision. This was reported by Sky News, citing government statistics.
According to the data, 233 convicts were released from prisons, and another 29 people were released from courtrooms due to a mistake. This figure is 128 percent higher than last year. The issue particularly caught public attention after the incident involving the Ethiopian illegal immigrant Hadush Kebatu.
Kebatu was convicted of sexual crimes, and his release caused strong protests throughout the country. According to reports, he was sentenced to one year in prison by the Chelmsford Magistrate Court for harassing a 14-year-old girl and a woman. He was later released to be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for deportation, but in the process he escaped.
Essex police reported that Kebatunun was heading to London. It was established that he had previously harassed several times, and these cases were proven by the court. Following this incident, mass protests erupted in various British cities.
Protesters demanded that the government abolish the practice of accommodating illegal immigrants in hotels. In reality, asylum seekers should be accommodated in special centers, but it turned out that there are not enough such centers in the country.
According to the UK Department of the Interior, as of March 2025, more than 32,000 illegal migrants are staying in 210 hotels across the country. According to The Times, their placement and maintenance cost British taxpayers approximately £4 billion annually.
The government intends to reform this system. According to the plan, the practice of accommodating migrants in hotels will be completely abolished by 2029. At the same time, an internal investigation has been launched regarding errors in the prison system.
Recall that a similar case was recently recorded in the USA - a 64-year-old man was released after 43 years of unjust imprisonment, but was subsequently arrested again. These events demonstrate the need to pay serious attention to the shortcomings and consequences of human error in justice systems around the world.
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