Correctional Facilities Won't Be Fixed Immediately, Minister States, as Law Enforcement Hunt For Two Individuals Incorrectly Released
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has labeled the circumstances as a "total shambles," speaking earlier today.
Appearing on a radio program, he pointed to comments made by David Lammy following a recent inmate discharge, stating that the minister would establish more robust verifications.
"It took six days for the prison service reportedly to even become aware this has happened" and inform the authorities, Jenrick explains, "leaving them a week behind in the search to locate him."
The opposition figure criticises the minister's handling during recent PMQs and alleges him of a "total dereliction of duty."
Addressing incorrect prison releases more generally, Jenrick underlines that "every single accidental discharge [...] is unacceptable."
He admits there were such releases under the former administration, but claims the figure "has risen significantly" under Labour.
Calling for additional correctional facilities to be built, he adds: "The public expect now are proper checks implemented."
"That is a specific bureaucratic error by the Ministry of Justice overseen by the minister," Jenrick concludes.
- A timeline on how the latest mistaken prisoner release developed is accessible elsewhere.
