British police are actively searching for two prisoners who were mistakenly released from custody in separate incidents this week. The situation has raised serious concerns about prison management and security protocols in the UK, particularly following the introduction of stricter checks by the government just days earlier.
On October 29, 2023, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, was released from Wandsworth Prison in southwest London. This facility, which has a history of security issues, was put into special measures after a previous escape incident involving a prisoner clinging to a food delivery truck. Kaddour-Cherif was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal and is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of indecent exposure last year.
The Metropolitan Police stated that they were not informed of Kaddour-Cherif’s release until October 31, six days after it occurred. Commander Paul Trevers, who is leading the investigation, acknowledged that Kaddour-Cherif has had a significant head start and emphasized the urgency of locating him.
In a related case, William Smith, 35, was also mistakenly released on October 30, 2023, shortly after being sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offenses. Surrey Police reported that Smith has connections to the Woking area in Surrey, and efforts are underway to track him down as well.
These inadvertent releases have further embarrassed the UK Prison Service, which has faced criticism for being under-resourced for years. The new Labour government, which returned to power in July 2023 after 14 years of Conservative leadership, is now under scrutiny for its handling of prison security.
The two recent cases follow another high-profile incident on October 24, 2023, when Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was mistakenly released from Chelmsford Prison. Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, had been sentenced to 12 months for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Following a two-day search, he was recaptured and subsequently deported back to Ethiopia.
In the wake of these errors, the government announced enhanced security measures in prisons and initiated an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding these releases. David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, expressed his outrage over the situation, attributing the challenges faced by the prison system to the previous administration’s policies.
Official statistics indicate a troubling trend, with a reported 262 prisoners released in error in the year ending March 2025, marking a 128% increase compared to the preceding 12-month period. Critics from the Conservative Party argued that the Labour government must accept responsibility for this sharp rise, linking it to decisions made to release prisoners early in an effort to manage overcrowding in prisons.
As the search for Kaddour-Cherif and Smith continues, the ongoing issues within the prison system highlight the pressing need for reform and effective oversight to ensure public safety.
