The accidental release of the Algerian comes despite the introduction of tighter checks – described by Mr Lammy as the toughest ever.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Shortly after 13:00hrs on Tuesday Nov 4, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday Oct 29.
“The prisoner is a 24-year-old man of Algerian nationality. Officers are carrying out urgent inquiries in an effort to locate the man and return him to custody.”
It is understood that the Algerian prisoner was serving time for trespass with an intent to steal, but had previously committed “lower-level” sexual offences.
It is not clear why the prison service did not alert police for six days, nor whether Mr Lammy knew of the accidental release when he was asked six times at the despatch box, where he was standing in for Sir Keir Starmer.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: “This is another shambles under Calamity Lammy’s watch. Accidental releases of prisoners have more than doubled under this government and David Lammy doesn’t have a clue what’s going on.
“The British people are being put in danger time and again due to the Government’s sheer incompetence.”
