London Police Capture Mistakenly Released Sex Offender

London police arrested a convicted sex offender and asylum-seeker who had been mistakenly released from prison, an incident that has drawn significant criticism of the government. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was apprehended in Finsbury Park, north London, on Sunday.

Kebatu’s release was announced as a “serious failure” by government officials. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he would be deported as soon as possible. Prior to this incident, Kebatu had made headlines after being arrested for sexually assaulting a teenage girl, which spurred widespread anti-migrant protests across London and other cities.

Authorities became aware of the error on Friday afternoon when it was reported that Kebatu had been released by mistake from a prison in Chelmsford, Essex. He was spotted boarding a train bound for London, following a misclassification as a prisoner due for release instead of being transferred to an immigration detention center.

Kebatu was sentenced in September to 12 months in prison for five offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Epping shortly after arriving in England by boat. His arrest had previously ignited protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where he was housed with other new arrivals. These protests often included far-right activists and led to disorder in various cities, prompting counterprotests from groups like Stand Up to Racism.

Following the incident, the Prison Service announced that a prison officer involved in Kebatu’s release had been removed from their duties while an internal investigation is conducted. Justice Secretary David Lammy emphasized the need for immediate improvements to prisoner release checks, stating that an investigation will determine what went wrong and who is accountable.

“This man was behind bars because of serious sex offenses,” Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News prior to Kebatu’s arrest. “He is not meant to be in this country. In fact, he was supposed to be transferred for deportation. The idea that he’s loose on our streets is incredibly serious.”

The issue of unauthorized migration has increasingly dominated the political landscape in Britain, particularly with the rising number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Recent figures indicate that over 36,900 individuals have made this dangerous journey from France to the U.K. in 2023, surpassing the total from the previous year.

Efforts by authorities in the U.K., France, and other nations to combat people smuggling and deter migration have largely proven ineffective. The government’s policy of accommodating migrants in hotels while they await asylum decisions has faced heavy criticism, highlighting the ongoing challenges surrounding immigration and public safety in Britain.