A major error has been identified in the UK’s penal system. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Between March 2024 and March 2025, over 260 prisoners were mistakenly released due to incorrect decisions. The “Sky News” channel, based on government statistics, provided information about this situation.
According to it, 233 prisoners were released from prisons and 29 from courtrooms due to errors. This figure has increased by 128 percent compared to the previous year.
This issue attracted widespread public attention especially after the incident involving Ethiopian illegal immigrant Hadush Kebatu. Kebatu was convicted of sexual offenses and sentenced by the Chelmsford Magistrates' Court to one year in prison for molesting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.
He was later released to be handed over to Home Office officials, but he escaped. Essex police reported that Kebatu headed to London.
His previous multiple molestation offenses were confirmed by the court. Following this incident, mass protests took place in various cities across the UK.
Protesters demanded that the government stop the practice of housing illegal immigrants in hotels. In fact, asylum seekers should be placed in special centers, but it was found that there are not enough such centers in the country.
According to the Home Office, as of March 2025, over 32,000 illegal immigrants are living in 210 hotels across the UK. “The Times” newspaper writes that accommodating and supporting them costs taxpayers approximately 4 billion pounds annually.
The government plans to reform this system. According to the plan, the practice of housing immigrants in hotels will be completely ended by 2029.
Additionally, an internal investigation has begun to examine errors in the prison system. At the same time, a similar case recently occurred in the USA.
A 64-year-old man was released after spending 43 years wrongfully imprisoned, but was then re-arrested. These events highlight the urgent need to pay serious attention to shortcomings in the justice system and the consequences of human error.
