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HMP Littlehey: Prisoners' Release

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 13 November 2025UIN 88992

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have been released in error from HMP Littlehey since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Jake Richards

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address this issue.

Totals for releases in error, including a breakdown by releasing prison (or Prisoner Escort Custody Services), are published each July in the HMPPS Annual Digest, available via HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2024 to March 2025 - GOV.UK, and provide data up to March 2025.

Breakdowns of the number of people who have been released in error since April 2025 cannot be provided because it would form a subset of releases in error data which underpins future versions of these Official Statistics.

The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected.

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