British police are intensifying their efforts to locate two prisoners who were mistakenly released from custody in recent days. The incidents come shortly after the government implemented stricter checks to prevent such errors.
The first individual, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, was released from Wandsworth Prison in southwest London on October 29, 2023. Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian national, had been serving time for trespass with intent to steal and is also a registered sex offender, having been convicted for indecent exposure a year prior. The Metropolitan Police were only made aware of his release on October 31, six days after he was freed. Commander Paul Trevers noted, “Cherif has had a six-day head start, but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts.”
In a separate incident, William Smith, 35, was also mistakenly released from custody on October 30, 2023. Smith had been sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offenses earlier that same day. Authorities from Surrey Police confirmed they are actively searching for him, as he has connections to the Woking area.
These errors come on the heels of another notable blunder involving an asylum seeker. On October 24, 2023, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national sentenced to 12 months for sexually assaulting a minor, was mistakenly released from Chelmsford Prison. He was apprehended after a two-day search and has since been deported back to Ethiopia. Following that incident, the government announced enhanced security measures in prisons and initiated an independent investigation into the release errors.
The recent mistakes have led to increased scrutiny of the British Prison Service, which has faced criticism over resource shortages. The current Labour government, which returned to power in July 2023, is under pressure to address these issues. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister David Lammy expressed his outrage regarding the situation, attributing the challenges in the prison system to the previous Conservative administration.
The number of prisoners released in error has surged significantly, with official figures indicating that 262 prisoners were mistakenly released in the year ending March 2025, marking a 128% increase compared to the previous year. Conservative representatives have criticized the Labour government, arguing that the rise in errors directly relates to its policy of early prisoner releases to alleviate overcrowding in facilities.
As police continue their search for Kaddour-Cherif and Smith, the incidents underscore the challenges facing the UK prison system and the urgent need for effective oversight and reform.