Police launch manhunt after another foreign prisoner mistakenly released from jail

Police Launch Manhunt After Mistaken Prison Release

Police have begun a manhunt after another foreign inmate was mistakenly freed from custody. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he was “absolutely outraged” by the situation.

The 24-year-old Algerian national, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, was accidentally released from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London on October 29. Authorities said the error was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday.

Kaddour-Cherif had been serving time for trespassing with intent to steal and had earlier convictions for indecent exposure, according to sources.

Earlier Wrongful Release

The case follows the mistaken release of migrant Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford on October 24. Kebatu had been jailed for assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Epping.

Political Response

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy—filling in for Sir Keir Starmer at Cop30 in Brazil—refused to confirm whether any additional asylum seekers had been wrongly released.

“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 declined to provide a direct answer and strongly criticized the state of the justice system inherited from the Conservatives.

Author’s Summary

A second accidental prisoner release has sparked outrage in the UK government, revealing deeper concerns about administrative failures in the justice system.

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Yorkshire Post Yorkshire Post — 2025-11-05

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