In a tumultuous session at the House of Commons, Labour MP David Lammy was sharply dissected over the “calamitous” accidental release of a migrant criminal, exposing a deepening crisis in the UK’s prison and immigration systems. The scandal has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of government policies and prison management failures.
The controversy centers on Hadouch Kabatu, a migrant who was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford despite seeking deportation multiple times—five requests ignored. His freedom unleashed widespread alarm after reports surfaced of his predatory behavior against schoolgirls while out of custody. The government’s mishandling, critics say, underlines a catastrophic breakdown in law enforcement and justice protocols.
Shadow Secretary of State Robert Jenrick didn’t hold back in Parliament. He condemned the justice secretary’s inability to deport Kabatu—the only small boat migrant who wanted to leave—and blasted government plans to abolish short prison sentences. Jenrick warned that under those plans, Kabatu wouldn’t have been imprisoned at all, risking further public safety.
The chaos was laid bare as the Metropolitan Police launched a desperate manhunt for Kabatu across London, a striking contrast to the government pushing for reduced prison sentences. Jenrick labeled the entire saga “a national embarrassment” and accused the Justice Secretary of performative outrage, suggesting his anger was little more than political theater.
Adding weight to the criticism, the shadow cabinet highlighted the broader problem within prisons. They pointed to HMP Chelmsford’s repeated failings, where self-assessed “good” conditions clashed with inspectors’ serious concerns. A rising tide of early offender releases—more than doubling in recent years—has compounded risks, with violent and sexual offenders increasingly slipping through the cracks.
Jenrick demanded transparency, pressing the Justice Secretary to disclose how many of the 262 mistakenly released prisoners last year were violent or sex offenders, and how many remain at large. He also raised alarms over the swelling number of foreign nationals in prisons, questioning how many individuals like Kabatu were part of the wrongful releases awaiting deportation.
The opposition’s interrogation grew more pointed, demanding a firm timetable to deport Kabatu, as previously promised. They insisted that failure to do so would require the Justice Secretary to resign, reinforcing the high political stakes and public expectations for accountability.
Amid the fiery exchanges, Labour’s shadow justice secretary pointed out an uncomfortable truth—Kabatu should never have entered the country. Criticism was leveled at the scrapping of the Rwanda deportation plan, a policy some Labour officials privately admitted was wrongly abandoned, directly linking the fiasco to the party’s own policy decisions.
As calls for a full independent inquiry echoed, scepticism remained rife about the government’s capacity to run a competent investigation. Jenrick’s inquiry was challenged for narrowing its focus, avoiding vital issues such as escalating drone sightings over prisons, violent assaults on officers, and the rise of extremism behind bars.
Historical failures resurfaced as a theme. MPs recalled similar grave mistakes under the previous Labour governments—including releases of dangerous offenders leading to further crimes—without adequate investigative follow-through. The current debacle was portrayed not as an isolated incident, but as a symptom of long-term neglect and mismanagement.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, meanwhile, defended the government’s record and condemned the opposition’s attacks. He asserted that probation and prison reforms are complex but necessary, pointing to legislative efforts intended to curb crime and improve safety. Raab blamed prior administrations for decades of underinvestment and rising crime, fiercely denying that current issues were new or unprecedented.
Despite Raab’s defenses, the mood in Parliament remained charged. MPs from all sides demanded urgent answers about the safety of communities, the effectiveness of prison oversight, and the future of deportation procedures for foreign national offenders. The debate culminated in a firm warning: public trust hangs by a thread if these systemic failures persist.
As the House braced for a crucial vote on sentencing reforms, the spotlight will remain firmly on the government’s handling of migrant criminals and prison security. Kabatu’s case has become a stark emblem of policy breakdowns threatening the UK’s criminal justice integrity and public safety.
This breaking scandal exposes a volatile intersection of immigration, justice, and public order—one that will not fade without swift action and accountability. The nation awaits definitive steps to correct course before more dangerous mistakes come to light.
