Response to the Independent Review into Releases in Error
The government response to Dame Lynne Owens’ Independent Review into Releases in Error.
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This document sets out the government’s response to the Independent Review into Releases in Error. In November 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister set out a national five-point plan, which included commissioning Dame Lynne Owens, former Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and former Director General of the National Crime Agency, to undertake an independent review into the mistaken release of Mr Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford, alongside the wider causes of releases in error, and to make recommendations to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
The government response acknowledges Dame Lynne’s report, and the thorough nature of the review. It responds to the report’s findings and recommendations, accepting all in principle, with those falling within the current Spending Review period being taken forward now and further action committed, subject to future funding decisions. It also outlines progress already made against the five-point plan, as well as outlining action underway to address releases in error and act on the recommendations.
This includes how the government will deliver on its plan to drive down the number of errors to pre-prison capacity crisis levels, and drive them down year-on-year, with the ultimate ambition to get as close to zero as possible in the coming years. The government’s approach is supported by up to £82 million of investment over this Spending Review period, and underpinned by three key themes:
- improving communication with victims when a release in error occurs
- modernising systems through digitalisation and harnessing AI tools to reduce error and improve reliability
- simplification of processes across courts and prisons to reduce the risk of sentence calculations