Prisoner Releases in Error

Debate between Sarah Pochin and David Lammy

Tuesday 11th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

The hon. Lady will know that absconding is a serious criminal offence, and that any defendant who commits this crime could face longer behind bars. This is of course a different issue to releases in error. Category D prisons have always existed, and absconds by prisoners are assessed, but I assure her that there is a downward trend in those who are absconding—57 in the year to March 2025.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Is the Justice Secretary aware of any crimes committed by wrongly released prisoners while at large?

[Mr Lammy]

As I have just said, William Fernandez went on to commit an horrific crime but the last Government never came to the Dispatch Box about that. By definition, if we got to the situation that we did in 2024, when 17 releases in error were happening, of course it is possible that people can go on to commit crimes. That is why I am hugely grateful—I know it involves police resource—for the efforts of our police to re-arrest these individuals. Some of them, as we saw last week, hand themselves back in when they realise that their release was in error. Our job is to minimise risk, but in a paper-based system we can never eradicate risk in time.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Pochin and David Lammy

Tuesday 16th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

The SNP is running down Scotland and wasting taxpayers’ money on the new Barlinnie prison—more than double the original estimated cost. We are doing much better on this side of the border, and we are working with colleagues to see what we can do about that situation.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Does the new Secretary of State for Justice recognise sharia law and sharia courts in the United Kingdom—yes or no?

Middle East

Debate between Sarah Pochin and David Lammy

Monday 23rd June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

I think that the people of Britain are entitled to know that we were not involved in this action, and that we work for diplomacy and de-escalation. That is why I was sitting in the White House last week, it is why I was in Geneva on Friday, and it is why I was at a Cobra meeting and making a round of calls to allies and partners to de-escalate at this time yesterday.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Can the Foreign Secretary explain to the House whether the United States felt unable to use the Diego Garcia base and had to refuel three times, in a highly dangerous operation, because of the deal that the Government did with the Mauritians, who would then tell the Chinese, who would then tell the Iranians?

[Mr Lammy]

The hon. Lady has to get off social media, and she has to get some help. She is swallowing conspiracy theories that should not be repeated in this House.