The Ministry of Justice is turning to artificial intelligence to tackle the growing problem of mistaken prisoner releases, with HMP Wandsworth becoming the first prison to receive approval for implementing AI technology.
Technology Solution for Systemic Problems
Justice Minister Lord Timpson announced to the House of Lords on Monday that specialised digital teams have been given the green light to implement AI systems at the troubled south-west London prison. This comes after a spate of high-profile release errors that have embarrassed the government and raised serious safety concerns.
According to Lord Timpson, the AI technology could revolutionise how prisons handle critical administrative tasks. AI chatbots would assist staff in processing paper documents, cross-referencing names to uncover aliases, merging different datasets, and accurately calculating release dates and sentences.
Recent Errors Highlight System Failures
The urgency for technological intervention became apparent last week when a double manhunt was launched following the incorrect release of two prisoners from HMP Wandsworth. Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, was mistakenly freed on 29th October before being arrested days later, while Billy Smith, 35, handed himself back in on Thursday after his accidental release.
These incidents followed the mistaken release of sex offender Hadush Kebatu from Chelmsford prison on 24th October, who had been convicted of assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. Government data reveals the scale of the problem: 262 prisoners were released in error in the 12 months to March this year, representing a staggering 128% increase from the previous year.
Behind the Crisis: Overwhelmed and Outdated Systems
The minister highlighted the dramatic variation in release numbers between prisons, explaining that while HMP Gartree averages just two releases annually, Wandsworth processes approximately 2,000 releases each year. This volume, combined with outdated systems, creates perfect conditions for human error.
Currently, prison staff rely on calculators and paper documents to perform complex calculations, with documents frequently lost between prisons, courts and the Ministry of Justice. The situation is further complicated by offenders using multiple aliases - some with more than 20 different names - making accurate identification challenging.
Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, described the recent spate of mistaken releases as a symptom of a system that is close to breaking point, while unions and governors point to complicated early-release schemes and paper-based systems as primary causes.
Government Response and Future Plans
In response to the crisis, Lord Chancellor David Lammy is expected to address Parliament about the number of missing prisoners when MPs return on Tuesday. The government has acknowledged the inherited nature of the prison crisis, with the prime minister's spokesperson stating there is no overnight fix.
The technological push forms part of a broader strategy that includes building 14,000 additional prison places and sending tech experts to modernise systems and provide immediate support to staff. As the justice system grapples with overcrowding, understaffing and antiquated technology, AI implementation represents a critical step toward preventing future release errors and protecting public safety.
