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Immigration detention centers

Migrant Recaptured After Being Released from Prison in Error, Prompting Government Investigation

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A high-profile immigration error occurred when Hadush Kebatu, a 41-year-old migrant, was released from HMP Chelmsford in error, despite being sentenced to a 12-month jail term and a five-year sexual harm prevention order for five offences, including sexually assaulting a woman and a 14-year-old girl. The error led to a major manhunt, with Metropolitan Police officers tracking Kebatu to a library in Dalston Square, east London, where he was spotted on CCTV, and eventually to a bus stop in Finsbury Park, north London, where he was arrested at 8.19am on Sunday morning.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hadush Kebatu, a 41-year-old migrant, was released from HMP Chelmsford in error on Friday, despite being sentenced to a 12-month jail term and a five-year sexual harm prevention order for five offences.
  • Kebatu was mistakenly boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford and later spotted on CCTV inside a library in Dalston Square, east London.
  • He was eventually arrested by Metropolitan Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London, at 8.19am on Sunday morning, 16 minutes after being spotted at a bus stop by a member of the public.
  • The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong and ensured that Kebatu will be deported.
  • Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced "immediate strengthening of release checks" and a full investigation, and thanked police for their "swift and thorough work".
  • Marie Goldman, the Lib Dem MP for Chelmsford, has called for a rapid national inquiry into the incident.
  • Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has called for answers from the Labour government on the incident.

Statistics:

  • 12 months: Kebatu's jail term for offences including sexually assaulting a woman and a 14-year-old girl.
  • 5 years: Length of the sexual harm prevention order imposed on Kebatu.
  • 41 years old: Kebatu's age at the time of his arrest.
  • 1983: Kebatu's birth year, according to Essex Police records.
  • 1986: Kebatu's reported birth year by a translator.
  • 14 years old: The age of one of Kebatu's victims.
  • 2: Number of victims of Kebatu's offences.

Sources:

  • "Migrant who sexually assaulted woman and girl is recaptured by police", [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/11/migrant-who-sexually-assaulted-woman-and-girl-is-recaptured-by-police)
  • "Government faces questions over migrant's release from prison", [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64721049)
  • "Migrant accused of sex attacks to be deported after being wrongly released from prison", [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/11/migrant-accused-sex-attacks-be-deported-wrongly-released-prison/)

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