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| 'Hundreds of inmates' released in error | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Prisoners are being released early by mistake at a rate of just under one every week in England and Wales, figures have revealed. | Prisoners are being released early by mistake at a rate of just under one every week in England and Wales, figures have revealed. |
| Ministry of Justice data obtained by the Press Association shows it has happened 505 times in the past decade. | Ministry of Justice data obtained by the Press Association shows it has happened 505 times in the past decade. |
| Cases have included those in prison for murder and other violent offences. | Cases have included those in prison for murder and other violent offences. |
| Tory MP Philip Davies called the findings "disturbing", but the Prison Service said such incidents were "very rare" and becoming less common. | Tory MP Philip Davies called the findings "disturbing", but the Prison Service said such incidents were "very rare" and becoming less common. |
| The figures obtained by the news agency show that 48 suspected or convicted criminals were freed by mistake in 2014-15. | The figures obtained by the news agency show that 48 suspected or convicted criminals were freed by mistake in 2014-15. |
| In one case, Martynas Kupstys was released from HMP Lincoln while on remand for murder in August last year. | In one case, Martynas Kupstys was released from HMP Lincoln while on remand for murder in August last year. |
| He was returned to custody after waiting at a nearby bus stop for three hours, and was later convicted. | He was returned to custody after waiting at a nearby bus stop for three hours, and was later convicted. |
| Same surname | Same surname |
| In an other example, a prisoner was freed from HMP Hewell, in Worcestershire, in July last year after an apparent mix-up involving another prisoner with the same surname. | In an other example, a prisoner was freed from HMP Hewell, in Worcestershire, in July last year after an apparent mix-up involving another prisoner with the same surname. |
| He was taken back to jail the next day. | He was taken back to jail the next day. |
| Mr Davies, a member of the Commons justice committee, said: "The first duty of the Prison Service should be protection of the public. | Mr Davies, a member of the Commons justice committee, said: "The first duty of the Prison Service should be protection of the public. |
| "These disturbing figures show that once a week the Prison Service release the wrong prisoner, and have done so for many years. | "These disturbing figures show that once a week the Prison Service release the wrong prisoner, and have done so for many years. |
| "This is nothing more than a shambles which puts the public unnecessarily at risk." | "This is nothing more than a shambles which puts the public unnecessarily at risk." |
| Shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter said it was further evidence of "the crisis in our prisons where overcrowding and violence are rife". | Shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter said it was further evidence of "the crisis in our prisons where overcrowding and violence are rife". |
| The charity Victim Support said those affected by crime would be "alarmed and frustrated". | The charity Victim Support said those affected by crime would be "alarmed and frustrated". |
| Director Lucy Hastings said: "We know it can be distressing and worrying when offenders are released from custody - releases made in error can make this many times worse." | Director Lucy Hastings said: "We know it can be distressing and worrying when offenders are released from custody - releases made in error can make this many times worse." |
| The Press Association obtained the figures through a Freedom of Information request. | The Press Association obtained the figures through a Freedom of Information request. |
| They show 41 people were wrongly released from prison and seven from court custody last year. This was one fewer than the previous year. | They show 41 people were wrongly released from prison and seven from court custody last year. This was one fewer than the previous year. |
| Explosive substance | Explosive substance |
| Over those two years, just under a quarter of the cases had been sentenced or charged over robbery or violent offences including assault and battery. | Over those two years, just under a quarter of the cases had been sentenced or charged over robbery or violent offences including assault and battery. |
| One was in custody on a firearms charge and another was being held for possessing an explosive substance. | One was in custody on a firearms charge and another was being held for possessing an explosive substance. |
| Two of those released in 2014-15 had not been returned to custody by the start of December this year, including an alleged sex offender released from court. | Two of those released in 2014-15 had not been returned to custody by the start of December this year, including an alleged sex offender released from court. |
| There were three releases from HMP Manchester, one from HMP Belmarsh and one from HMP Woodhill, all high-security prisons, over two years. | There were three releases from HMP Manchester, one from HMP Belmarsh and one from HMP Woodhill, all high-security prisons, over two years. |
| HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire has the highest number of such release over the same period with 10. | HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire has the highest number of such release over the same period with 10. |
| 'Top priority' | 'Top priority' |
| The Prison Service said public protection was its top priority. | The Prison Service said public protection was its top priority. |
| A spokesman said: "These incidents are very rare but we are not complacent. | A spokesman said: "These incidents are very rare but we are not complacent. |
| "The number of releases in error has fallen by almost a third since 2009 and the vast majority are returned to custody very quickly. | "The number of releases in error has fallen by almost a third since 2009 and the vast majority are returned to custody very quickly. |
| "The Prison Service investigates each incident and they are reported to the police for further action." | "The Prison Service investigates each incident and they are reported to the police for further action." |