Second foreign prisoner mistakenly released from prison as search under way

Another foreign prisoner is on the run after being mistakenly released, Sky News has learnt.

The error at HMP Wandsworth in south London happened on 29 October - just five days after the high-profile release of migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford in Essex. It was also two days after Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy announced enhanced checks on prisoner releases.

Manhunt latest: Foreign prisoner on the loose The Metropolitan Police confirmed to Sky News: "Shortly after 1pm on Tuesday 4 November, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 29 October. "The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.

"Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody." Sky News understands the prisoner was serving time for trespass with an intent to steal but has previously committed sexual offences. It is understood he is not an asylum seeker.

'Utterly unacceptable' It is not yet clear why it was nearly a week between the latest release at Wandsworth and the police being informed that an offender was at large. Sir Keir Starmer was not aware of the incident until the Met Police announcement, Downing Street said.

The prime minister's spokesman told reporters: "The Met have released a statement I think in the last few minutes." He said "one mistaken release is one too many" and the case was "utterly unacceptable". "It's important the police are given the time and space to bring him back into custody.

And we will look into the circumstances behind this as a matter of urgency," he added. The PM's spokesman could not say when Mr Lammy became aware of the error, after the cabinet minister refused to answer several questions in the House of Commons on the incident from the shadow defence secretary.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on X: "James Cartlidge asked the Deputy PM FIVE times to tell us if ANOTHER migrant sex offender had been accidentally released from prison. "Instead of answering, Lammy lost his temper.

"Now we read it HAS happened again & he's been on the run for a week. "This is a shambles of a government." Lammy 'outraged and appalled' Sky News understands Mr Lammy did know about the prisoner release before he stood up in the Commons and was pressed on the issue by the Conservatives.

"If we knew, one can only assume the justice secretary knew," a spokesman for Ms Badenoch said, adding Mr Lammy should come back to the chamber "and do a statement as soon as possible". Mr Lammy said afterwards he was "absolutely outraged and appalled by the mistaken release of a foreign criminal wanted by the police.