A total of 91 prisoners were “accidentally” released from prison between early April and the end of October in Britain, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice.

The figures were released on Tuesday, just as Justice Minister David Lammy was at the center of criticism over repeated cases of wrongful release. Speaking in the House of Commons, Lammy expressed “sincere apologies” and admitted that “the release process needs a radical review“. At the same time, he confirmed that three prisoners who were mistakenly released remain at large, while another possible incident of mistaken release on 3 November is being investigated.

According to Ministry of Justice figures, suspicious incidents of “wrongful” release have increased significantly. From March 2024 to March 2025, 262 cases were recorded – a 128% increase from 115 cases the previous year. Of these, 87 involved prisoners convicted of violent crimes and three for sexual offences.

Presenting the figures to Parliament, Lammy admitted that “prisons across the country are underfunded, understaffed and operating under constant pressure”, stressing that the problem of releases “is complex”. He said, “Clearly, we have a huge problem on our hands.”

The British minister announced the creation of a “new commission on the delivery of justice” to review procedures in prisons and criminal courts. Release errors can include incorrect prison or remand warrants, incorrect sentence calculations or can be the result of mistakes by courts or other authorities, according to the British Ministry of Justice.