Major failures led to accidental release of serial rapist, report finds

Joseph McCann freed after probation policy to consider alternatives to prison recall

Significant failings by prison and probation staff, and a policy of not recalling high risk prisoners to alleviate pressure on a growing prison population, saw serial rapist Joseph McCann mistakenly freed from jail to attack 11 women and children, a review has found.

The damning report by HM Inspectorate of Probation highlights eight missed opportunities to recall McCann, 34, a high risk IPP (imprisonment for public protection) prisoner before he was released, following a burglary offence, in February 2019.