An outdated system for logging prisoners in the UK is being blamed for accidental releases, according to reports. The Metropolitan Police announced that Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, was apprehended in Islington after five days of being wrongly set free. In a similar incident, convicted fraudster Billy Smith, 35, who was also mistakenly freed from the same prison, voluntarily returned and was seen kissing a woman believed to be his girlfriend before being escorted back into custody.
These incidents are part of a series of troubling accidental releases that started with the mistaken release of Epping attacker Hadush Kebatu, 38, from HMP Chelmsford instead of deportation. Government data reveals a concerning rise in such errors, with 262 prisoners released in error in the past 12 months, marking a significant 128% increase from the previous year.
Insiders at the HM Prison and Probation Service attribute these mistakes to the outdated electronic prison log system known as NOMIS. Introduced in 2010, NOMIS has been criticized for its complexity and lack of compatibility with other systems, often necessitating physical print-outs for information transfer. Although a more modern system called Digital Prison Services (DPS) has been slowly implemented in some prisons, a full replacement of NOMIS is not expected until 2029.
Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), emphasized the urgent need for technological upgrades and increased staff support to prevent further errors. Even prisoners have voiced concerns about the system, highlighting its inefficiencies and difficulties in processing releases.
The government acknowledges the need to address the issue and plans to deploy specialized teams to introduce advanced technology in prisons and implement stricter oversight measures for all releases. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has initiated new checks to prevent future errors and has launched investigations into systemic failures caused by outdated paper-based systems still in use in some prisons.
Reflecting on years of austerity, Lammy expressed determination to address the crisis in the prison system but acknowledged the challenges ahead. He emphasized the importance of implementing robust release checks, conducting independent investigations, and modernizing outdated systems to prevent further accidental releases.
