Epping asylum seeker arrested after mistaken prison release

(LONDON) An asylum seeker convicted of two sexual assaults in Essex was mistakenly released from prison on Friday and spent two days moving across London before officers arrested him on Sunday morning, triggering fierce criticism of prison procedures and fresh debate over deportation policy.

Police confirmed that 38-year-old Hadush Kebatu, jailed in September for attacks on a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, is now back in custody and set to be removed from the country “later this week,” according to the Justice Secretary. The case has prompted a formal investigation into how a prisoner due for immigration detention could walk out of HMP Chelmsford after serving just 31 days of a 12-month sentence.

What happened, and timeline

Officials say staff at HMP Chelmsford mistakenly released Kebatu on Friday, October 24, 2025, when he should have been transferred from prison to an immigration detention facility.

• After leaving custody, he reportedly walked along Chelmsford High Street, took a train toward Stratford in East London, and was later seen in a public library in Dalston.
• In a concerning twist, Kebatu is said to have tried to hand himself back in at the prison reception at one point but was not re-detained.
• A nationwide alert followed. Using CCTV checks and public tip-offs, officers arrested him in the Finsbury Park area at around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
• He is now held pending deportation.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed the deportation will go ahead. Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered a full investigation into how the mistaken release occurred and why warning systems did not prevent it.

Official response and political fallout

Justice Secretary David Lammy ordered a “full investigation” and is expected to make a parliamentary statement. Key areas for scrutiny will include:

• Staffing levels and training at HMP Chelmsford
• Procedures for transferring foreign national offenders to immigration detention
• The speed and scope of police alerts
• Communications between prison officials, the Home Office, and local police once the mistake was discovered

Opposition parties demand public apologies and a formal inquiry. Their specific questions include:

• Was Kebatu electronically flagged as due for detention after sentence?
• Had a deportation order already been served?
• Did the prison’s case management system misidentify his status at release?

Some MPs propose appointing a dedicated “handover officer” for every foreign national offender on release day. Others say chronic overcrowding and staff churn make even good procedures vulnerable.

“How could a convicted offender walk free in error?” — a question echoed by victims, families, and victim support groups seeking reassurance and swift remedial action.

Investigation focus: the moment of re-entry and systems checks

Investigators will scrutinize whether Kebatu’s brief attempt to return to HMP Chelmsford should have triggered immediate re-detention. Areas under review include:

• Radio logs, prison gate entries, staff rosters, and CCTV footage
• When the prison notified the Home Office that the prisoner had been released
• Whether a system flag should have stopped him at the exit
• Reception staff training and the handling of a voluntary return

Context: deportation process and operational constraints

The Home Office has not disclosed Kebatu’s country of origin or exact removal arrangements, citing operational security and privacy rules. The Justice Secretary’s timeline that deportation will happen “sometime later this week” indicates an expedited process.

Normally, removal after a criminal sentence involves:

1. Handover from prison to an immigration detention centre
2. Travel document checks and flight booking
3. Enforcement of a deportation order if no legal barriers remain

The unusual factor here is not the deportation itself but that Kebatu was freed in error at the moment he should have been transferred.

System pressures and the scale of the problem

Official statistics show 262 prisoners were mistakenly released in the UK in the 12 months to March 2025. These errors range from miscalculated release dates to communication failures and missing paperwork.

• Many mistakenly released prisoners are recaptured quickly or return voluntarily.
• But the headline figure has amplified public concern and highlighted pressure on a prison system operating near capacity.
• Staffing shortages, complex foreign national cases, and busy handover periods increase the risk of human error.

Public safety, victims, and community reaction

Authorities insist the public was not at risk after police acted quickly, but the episode sparked alarm, especially in Epping where the original assaults occurred.

• Families and victim support groups expressed shock that a convicted sexual offender could be mistakenly freed, however briefly.
• For the mother of the young victim, the temporary return to the streets is likely to feel like a breach of trust in a system meant to keep her child safe.

Residents, shopkeepers, and schools in affected areas are seeking reassurance about notification procedures during such manhunts. Victim support services urge prompt, clear communication and involvement of victims’ liaison officers.

Policy and procedural reform proposals

The case has intensified debate about how to reduce risk at the prison-to-immigration handover. Proposed measures include:

• Mandatory double-checks on all releases involving foreign national offenders
• Live confirmation with immigration teams before any gate opens
• Dual sign-off for releases involving deportation cases
• Real-time digital verification at the gate (e.g., no gate pass without Home Office confirmation)
• Additional training for reception and gate staff, particularly at high-risk prisons
• A unified alert system that blocks release unless immigration transfer is confirmed

Staff representatives warn that extra checks must be paired with extra resources and staffing; otherwise, additional burdens may increase error risk.

Legal distinction: deportation vs removal

Officials will weigh legal obligations, including any protection claims, against public safety:

• Removal: when someone has no legal right to stay and is taken out, for example, after a refused claim.
• Deportation: when the Home Secretary deems removal in the public interest, often due to criminality. A deportation order bars return unless revoked.

For someone convicted of sexual assault, the government will seek to show deportation is enforced swiftly and definitively.

Technology and long-term fixes

Many experts argue for an “unbroken digital chain of custody” from courtroom to prison gate to immigration detention:

• Automatic updates across court, prison, and Home Office systems
• Clear, unmissable alerts at release scanning points: “Do not release—transfer to immigration detention”
• Preventing gate pass printing until Home Office confirmation is logged

Such systems require investment, training, and implementation time.

What to expect next

• A full investigation and a parliamentary statement from the Justice Secretary
• Possible immediate operational changes at HMP Chelmsford and other prisons handling foreign national offenders
• Scrutiny of the Friday timeline, the prison reception response when Kebatu reportedly tried to return, and coordination on transport to detention
• Potential short-term measures like dual sign-off or real-time Home Office verification before release

If visible, measurable changes appear within weeks, the government may begin to rebuild trust. If not, political pressure and calls for accountability will grow.

Key takeaways and warnings

The weekend’s events highlight the cost of administrative breakdowns at a critical handover point: a convicted offender briefly walked free and moved across one of the world’s largest cities. Thankfully, he is back in custody.

Important figures and facts:
– 31 days served of a 12-month sentence
– Release date: Friday, October 24, 2025
– Arrest: 8:30 a.m., Sunday, October 26, 2025
– 262 mistaken releases in the 12 months to March 2025

Suggested immediate actions often cited by experts and campaigners:
– Implement dual-sign off and live Home Office checks at release
– Improve training for reception and gate staff
– Invest in integrated digital systems to reduce human-error risk
– Publish the investigation findings promptly, with clear remedial steps and timelines

Further reading

For background on asylum and removal processes, the government guidance on claiming asylum is available here: Claim asylum in the UK.

The re-arrest, promised deportation, and investigation are ongoing. The public will judge progress by whether practical changes reduce the chance of another mistaken release, not by statements alone.