By James Sorene

Governments will always be hit by scandals and emergencies.

But it is how they behave in the aftermath that defines them.

Every crisis is a crossroads for ministers to either amplify the failure or take the opportunity to display leadership, grip, humility and decency.

Now consider the chain of events since convicted sex offender Hadush Kebatu was released from Chelmsford Prison rather than detained by Immigration officers and deported.

Although Justice MInister David Lammy explained the failure to the House of Commons the sum total of action to deal with the prisons crisis was to introduce a lengthy pre-release checklist and ask Dame Lynne Owens to do a review.

Given the public outcry, that wasn’t a sufficient response and didn’t begin to address the severe problems of prison violence and overcrowding being managed by inexperienced staff who are also implementing controversial early release schemes.

Kebatu was convicted of five sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl and an adult woman. The crimes sparked protests against the Epping Hotel housing asylum applicants where he stayed so it was clear that his mistaken........

© LBC