Labour’s commitment to strengthen prisoner release protocols has come under fire following the erroneous release of two convicts from HMP Wandsworth in London. The incidents have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the measures promised by David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, just days prior.
On October 29, 2025, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, was mistakenly released while awaiting deportation. He was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal and has a history of prior offenses, including indecent exposure. Reports indicate that police were not notified of the mistake for six days, during which time Kaddour-Cherif remained at large.
The blunder follows a previous incident involving Hadush Kebatu, a convicted sex offender who was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford in Essex. Kebatu, who had been convicted of sexually assaulting minors, was freed just before Lammy assured MPs that the government had implemented the “strongest ever checks” on prisoner releases.
Adding to the turmoil, William Smith, a 35-year-old British national, was released from Wandsworth on November 6, 2025, on the same day he was sentenced to a 45-month prison term for multiple fraud offenses. A clerical error in the court system led staff to log him as receiving a suspended sentence instead of immediate custody. Efforts to rectify the mistake were misdirected, resulting in Smith’s premature release.
The series of errors has prompted criticism from political opponents. Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick described the situation as a “clown show,” highlighting that two significant mistakes occurred within the same week. He stated, “There’s never been a better time to be a criminal,” referencing the failures in the system.
Kaddour-Cherif entered the UK legally in 2019, but his visa expired shortly thereafter, leaving him as an overstayer. The Home Office flagged his immigration status in February 2020, yet he was never detained despite multiple interactions with law enforcement. Currently, he is in the early stages of deportation proceedings.
In response to the latest blunders, Lammy expressed his outrage, attributing the failures to a system he claims was inherited from the previous government. He noted that the release process had been made more robust, with prison governors instructed to follow a “clear checklist” before releasing any offenders. “These are the strongest release checks that have ever been in place,” Lammy stated, though the recent incidents cast doubt on the effectiveness of these measures.
The Metropolitan Police have acknowledged the urgency of locating Kaddour-Cherif, who has a significant criminal history, including convictions for assault and knife possession. A spokesperson stated, “Cherif has had a six-day head start, but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts.”
As the manhunt continues for both Kaddour-Cherif and Smith, the incidents serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the UK’s justice and immigration systems. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized Labour’s handling of the situation, calling it a “total farce.”
The ramifications of these errors extend beyond political discourse, raising pressing questions about public safety and the effectiveness of the current administration’s promises to enhance oversight in prisoner releases. As authorities work to rectify these failures, the urgency of addressing systemic issues within the justice system becomes increasingly apparent.
