The Ministry of Justice faces a crisis as two inmates were mistakenly released within days of each other at the same prison. Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a registered sex offender, was erroneously freed from HMP Wandsworth, with the Metropolitan Police only being informed six days later. Additionally, fraudster William Smith, also known as Billy, was released from the same facility due to a mix-up in court records.
Both men are now subjects of police manhunts following these administrative errors. These incidents occurred shortly after another inmate, Hadush Kebatu, was mistakenly released from HMP Chelmsford on a previous occasion.
David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister and acting Justice Secretary, expressed deep concern over Kaddour-Cherif’s release, highlighting systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Kaddour-Cherif, originally from Algeria, vanished during the deportation process on October 29 after arriving in the UK legally in 2019.
Furthermore, details emerged that Kaddour-Cherif had engaged in criminal activities, including an incident where he exposed himself to a woman in a nearby park shortly after eluding court proceedings. He was also involved in a break-in and had faced charges for handling stolen goods.
Despite being convicted for indecent exposure and other offenses in the past, Kaddour-Cherif’s release went unnoticed until a day after he went missing. Authorities are actively seeking to locate him, acknowledging the urgency of the situation.
In a separate case, Smith’s release was also marred by confusion, leading to a mix-up with his co-defendant’s sentencing. The error in the digital system resulted in Smith being wrongly granted a suspended sentence, prompting his premature release.
Efforts to rectify the situation were hindered by further mistakes in the notification process, allowing Smith to walk free before the error could be corrected. Surrey Police disclosed that Smith has connections to Woking but could be anywhere in the county.
The release of Kaddour-Cherif and the subsequent events have sparked criticism and calls for accountability within the justice system. Lammy and other officials have condemned the lapses, emphasizing the need for swift action and improved safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.