Police Launch Manhunt After Another Foreign Prisoner Mistakenly Released
Police have started a manhunt following the accidental release of another foreign prisoner. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy expressed being “absolutely outraged” by the incident.
Details of the Incident
On October 29, a 24-year-old Algerian sex offender, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, was mistakenly freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London. The Metropolitan Police were only informed of the error on the following Tuesday.
Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal. Sources also reported that he had prior convictions for indecent exposure.
Context of Previous Release
This release follows a similar case where migrant Hadush Kebatu was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford on October 24. Kebatu had been jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Epping.
Government Response
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, deputising during Sir Keir Starmer’s trip to Cop30 in Brazil, declined to confirm whether other asylum seekers had been mistakenly released, despite repeated questioning.
“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
Mr Lammy refused to confirm and criticized the justice system inherited from the Conservatives.
Summary
Repeated mistaken releases of foreign prisoners have triggered a manhunt and political scrutiny, with officials expressing outrage but offering limited assurance on the scope of the issue.