A prisoner is released in error if they are released when they
should otherwise have remained in HMPPS custody(1) and the
prisoner or third party has not deliberately played a part in the
error.
Number of Releases in Error
The number of releases in error from 1 April 2025 to 31 October
2025 was 91.
Data on releases in error are regularly published in the HMPPS
Annual Digest (latest data to year-ending March 2025): HMPPS
Annual Digest, April 2024 to March 2025 - GOV.UK
Further Information
This publication of transparency data presents the number of
releases in error from 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2025. These are
counts of all recorded releases in error occurring from HMPPS
custody during this time period. Data on releases is based on the
information available at the time. It may be the case in some
circumstances that information on a case is brought to light that
either confirms or disproves a release in error. Consequently,
figures for recent months may change over time, as there has been
less time for such cases to be detected. In the past, these
revisions have tended to be upwards.
Examples of releases in error may include misplaced warrants for
imprisonment or remand, recall notices not acted upon or sentence
miscalculation, where a prisoner is released earlier than their
correct release date, or where there is an error at the
(1) This is inclusive of releases in error from HMPPS
establishments and Prisoner Escort Custody Services point of
final discharge. Releases in error from HMPPS could also be a
result of errors by the court or other authorities.
If the person released is not aware of the error and makes no
attempt to evade arrest, then they have committed no additional
offence and in that sense, they may not be at fault. If it is
believed that the situation was manipulated by the prisoner, for
example by taking the identity of another person, then this will
be classified as an escape, and not a release in error.
This data has been extracted from a live operational reporting
system, with some additional manual reconciliation. As with any
data extracted from administrative systems, it is subject to
possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject
to revision if the underlying data changes.
Please note that this data is not directly comparable to releases
in error volumes published in the HMPPS Annual Digest (latest
publication: year-ending March 2025) due to the manual
reconciliation of records conducted for this ad-hoc publication;
possible effects of seasonality on release volumes; and the
possibility of late recordings.
Due to the relatively low numbers of release in error, changes
over time should be interpreted with caution and considered in
the context of the number of releases in the same time period and
changes in the operational environment.
