Professor John Robertson OBA
Alerted by the above from MSM Monitor, I thought I’d find out the answer to those in Scotland who will insist – “Ayr it’s just as f*****g bad here, pal!”
It’s not, by no means.
First, England, with sources:
MoJ Partial Data (April 1–October 31, 2025): 91 releases in error, equivalent to ~3 per week. Disclosed by Justice Secretary David Lammy in parliamentary statements and published via MoJ.
- BBC News: More than 90 prisoners freed by mistake since April, November 11, 2025.
- The Guardian: David Lammy says 91 prisoners freed in error, November 12, 2025.
- The Independent: Three prisoners released by mistake every week, November 11, 2025.
Recent Updates (November 1–December 2, 2025): 12 additional releases, with 2 still at large (non-violent/sex offenders). Announced by Lammy amid ongoing investigations.
- BBC News: Twelve more prisoners in England and Wales released in error, December 2, 2025.
- The Guardian: Twelve more prisoners released in error, December 2, 2025.
- Manchester Evening News: Government issues update as two mistakenly released prisoners still at large, December 2, 2025.
So, total for this year so far, From 1 April 2025, 110.
Second, Scotland:
SPS Multi-Year Data (2022–2025): 27 releases in error total (8 in 2022/23, 7 in 2023/24, 9 in 2024/25, 3 up to October 2025). Errors are administrative (e.g., warrant issues); quick recalls via Police Scotland.
- Daily Record: Dozens of prisoners mistakenly released from jails in Scotland since 2022, November 6, 2025.
- The Scotsman: Dozens of prisoners released by mistake in Scotland over last four years, November 6, 2025.
- Scottish Daily Express: SNP humiliated as dozens of prisoners mistakenly freed, November 6, 2025.
- The National: Almost 30 prisoners released by mistake in Scotland since 2022, November 6, 2025.
- The Herald: 27 prisoners mistakenly released in Scotland since 2022, November 6, 2025.
So, 3.
Notice the desperation in the Scottish press to hid the recent figure of 3 among older figures and the lack of evidence of any prisoners released in error in Scotland since October?
Taking into account the 10 to 1 population difference, at 30 to 110, England’s prisons are still releasing nearly 4 times as many prisoners in error.
Sources: https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1996161030662025224
Why is this?
The prisoner-to-prison officer ratio in England, is approximately 3.7:1 as of mid-2025: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/performance-tracker-2023/prisons
In Scotland, it’s 1.7:1, thus more than twice as well-staffed: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7rv9yx0x9o
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Same old, same old I’m afraid. “Scottish” press? Aye, sure. Only if they can find a supposed headline to denigrate any organisation with complete responsibility in Scotland. And what with the mistakes, no doubt deliberate in some cases, although you could add stupidity to their other faults, or in some cases, deliberate omission, you have it in a nutshell. With only the National supporting us, as far as the print media is concerned, we are fighting an uphill battle to make the electorate aware of the true facts regarding the situation about all public services in Scotland, and the propaganda is only going to become more hysterical once we reach 2026. So be prepared.
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