Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian asylum seeker, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in Essex, triggering a two-day manhunt and exposing significant systemic failures within England and Wales's Prison Service. Kebatu, who arrived in the UK via a small boat on June 29, was residing at the Bell hotel in Epping, Essex, an asylum accommodation. Eight days after his arrival, he engaged in sexually explicit remarks with a 14-year-old girl, followed by a sexual assault on a woman and a second attempt to kiss the same teenage girl. He was found guilty of two sexual assaults, harassment, inciting sexual activity, and attempted sexual assault, leading to a 12-month prison sentence and a deportation order in September.

Despite expressing a wish for deportation at his trial, Kebatu was erroneously released from HMP Chelmsford on a Friday morning, instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre for his planned deportation. Reports indicated he returned to the prison multiple times, confused about his release, and was eventually directed towards the town centre and then the train station by police officers. This blunder prompted an urgent search, with Kebatu boarding a train to east London at 12:41 PM, just 16 minutes before Essex police were alerted to his disappearance. CCTV footage showed him asking for help in Chelmsford town centre and later in a library in Dalston, east London. He was finally spotted and arrested in Finsbury Park, north London, on Sunday morning, wearing a change of clothes.

This incident is not isolated, highlighting a growing crisis within the prison estate. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service reported 262 prisoners were released in error between April 2024 and March 2025, a 128% increase from the previous year's 115. Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, described the problem as "endemic" and symptomatic of "chaos within the system," attributing it to inexperienced staff, large caseloads, and various early release schemes. HMP Chelmsford itself has a history of such errors, notably the mistaken release of convicted fraudster Junead Ahmed due to a fake email. The prison's inspection report from January-February 2024 had already flagged "considerable pressures" and staff shortages in critical departments like reception and the pre-release team.

The prison officers’ union (POA) has questioned the suspension of a single custodial manager at HMP Chelmsford, arguing it is "unjust" as more senior staff were involved in the release process. The POA national chair, Mark Fairhurst, highlighted that paperwork for releases involves checks by a hub manager 14 days prior and a governor-grade manager two days before. The investigation is expected to determine whether Kebatu’s deportation status was clearly indicated on the paperwork or overlooked by responsible staff.

The mistaken release provoked widespread condemnation. Kebatu's victims and their families expressed shock and concern, while Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman called for a "rapid, national inquiry." Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy faced a grilling in the House of Commons, where he announced an independent inquiry into the blunder and committed to strengthening the system. He stated that Kebatu would be deported this week after police questioning. However, Lammy also faced sharp criticism from opposition MPs, including Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp, who demanded apologies from Lammy and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and called for a broader inquiry into crimes by Channel migrants. Communities Secretary Steve Reed conceded the justice system was "broken" and blamed previous government cuts for staffing shortages, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed an investigation has been ordered. The Prison Service has since mandated additional checks on prisoner releases, though prison staff and governors fear this will increase workload and slow the system.