The mistaken release of a sex offender who was set to be deported exposes the staffing pressures at the heart of Britain’s prisons crisis. A senior prison employee told the BBC that Hadush Kebatu’s accidental release was “down to a series of mistakes probably because staff are overworked and in short supply”.
Prison overcrowding has become a serious political and societal issue. But while prison places are increasing with the construction of new prisons, staffing is not keeping pace. In 2019 there were roughly 3.7 prisoners per officer, in 2022 there were 3.8 prisoners per officer and in 2025 there were 3.9 prisoners per officer.
Between August 2022 and August 2025 the prison population increased by more than 6,000 prisoners – yet the number of prison officers grew by only around 1,000.
