PRT comment: Independent Review into Releases in Error

Commenting on the publication of Dame Lynne Owens’ Independent Review into Releases in Error, and the government’s response today (15 April), Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“The mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu was a shocking failure, exposing a criminal justice system under such strain that it had failed in its most basic duty. As we have now learnt, this was sadly not an isolated case, with 179 releases in error taking place between 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

“But as Dame Lynne Owen’s comprehensive report reveals, the warning signs have been visible for years. Chronic under‑resourcing, high staff turnover, the loss of experienced sentence‑calculation specialists, fragmented IT systems, and an ever‑growing complexity of release rules have created conditions in which serious errors are far more likely.

“Our prisons remain in crisis, and there is no quick fix. It is therefore right that the government has accepted Dame Lynne’s findings and is moving swiftly to strengthen training, support and oversight for frontline staff. But lasting progress will depend on whether prisons are given sufficient, experienced staff with the time, tools and confidence to calculate sentences accurately. New systems and simpler rules will help, but unless staffing pressures are resolved, the system will remain vulnerable to further errors in future.”