LONDON, April 26 (UPI) -- Britain's embarrassed Home Office refused Wednesday to release the names of more than 1,000 foreign criminals it accidentally released from prison.
British media was awash with the story of how killers, rapists and pedophiles were among 1,023 inmates released in England and Wales since 1999 instead of being sent through immigration or deportation channels.
Among them were three murderers, nine rapists and five pedophiles, The Times of London reported. Another seven had served time for other sex offences, 57 for violent offences and two for manslaughter. There were also 41 burglars, 20 drug smugglers, 54 convicted of assault and 27 of indecent assault.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said he took responsibility, and explained the blunder occurred because the number of foreign prisoners has increased from 4,300 in 1996 to more than 10,000 this year.
Clarke said he had asked police agencies to hunt down the convicts, but The Times said the Home Office refused to identify any foreign prisoners, which could possibly help to track them down.
