Police Launch Manhunt After Mistaken Prisoner Release
The police have begun a manhunt following the accidental release of another foreign prisoner from jail. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy expressed his strong disapproval, describing the situation as “absolutely outraged.”
Details of the Incident
On October 29, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, was mistakenly freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London. The error was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday. Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal, and had earlier convictions for indecent exposure.
Previous Similar Incident
This incident occurred shortly after another case where Hadush Kebatu, a migrant jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Epping, was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 24.
Parliamentary Questions and Responses
“I want to ask him a further very important question – can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?” — Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Justice Secretary David Lammy, deputising while Sir Keir Starmer is at Cop30 in Brazil, declined to confirm whether other asylum seekers had also been mistakenly released. He repeatedly refused to answer on five occasions and criticized the justice system left by the previous Conservative government.
“Absolutely outraged” — Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on the prisoner release error.
Summary
The accidental release of foreign prisoners has sparked a police hunt and political backlash, highlighting ongoing concerns over the justice system's management of high-risk offenders.