A manhunt continues in London after two prisoners were wrongly released from the same jail, as the Justice Secretary faces pressure over the error.
Police are still trying to track down 24-year-old convicted Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif who was accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London on October 29, but the mistake was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old William Smith, who was jailed for 45 months for fraud on Monday, was released from the Category B prison on the same day he was jailed.
He handed himself back in to HMP Wandsworth today. He was accompanied by his partner who he hugged goodbye before presenting himself to staff at the prison entrance.
The releases are a major embarrassment for the Government and justice system, coming after migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford last month.
David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, has come under fire for not addressing the release of Kaddour-Cherif during PMQs, despite reportedly knowing about it and having a statement prepared, according to The Times.
- See also: Inside Britain’s broken justice system
He has been accused of failing to clarify whether more asylum seekers were wrongly freed, though later said he was “absolutely outraged” by the incident. Reports suggest Lammy withheld his statement to avoid pre-empting the police investigation.
Follow the latest developments below...
Key Points
- Manhunt underway after second foreign prisoner mistakenly released
- Tooting MP 'horrified' after prisoner mistakenly released from same jail Daniel Khalife escaped from
- Surrey Police said second prisoner also mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth on Monday has handed himself in
- Prison governors in 'crisis talks' as hunt continues for wrongly released prisoners
- Prisoner hands himself back in three days after he was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth
David Lammy hails return of prisoner
12:34 , Megan HoweJustice Secretary David Lammy has hailed that “William Smith is back in custody”.
But he said the mistaken releases of both prisoners was “unacceptable” and that he was working with police to recapture sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.
He wrote on X: “The spike in mistaken releases is unacceptable. We're modernising prison systems - replacing paper with digital tools to cut errors. We're working with police to recapture Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.”
William Smith is back in custody. The spike in mistaken releases is unacceptable.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 6, 2025
We're modernising prison systems - replacing paper with digital tools to cut errors.
We're working with police to recapture Brahim Kaddour-Cherif.
Scale of accidental prison releases 'deeply concerning', PGA says
11:54 , Megan HoweAhead of a meeting with ministers, the Prison Governors Association (PGA) described releases in error as "neither rare nor hidden", but said the scale of them was "deeply concerning".
Figures show 262 prisoners were released in error in the last full year of reporting.
In a statement, the PGA insisted only 0.5% of prisoners are not released on the correct date, but added: "While that may appear to be a small percentage, in a system managing tens of thousands of releases and transfers each quarter, it does represent a significant operational failure."
The conditions to "reduce this figure to zero simply do not exist", the association said, adding it "feels disingenuous to see politicians attempt to extract political gain from a prison system in crisis".
Prisoner hands himself back in three days after he was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth
11:50 , Megan HoweBilly Smith, 35, has handed himself back in to HMP Wandsworth, three days after he was released in error.
A manhunt continues for 24-year-old Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif who was also released in error on October 29.
Surrey Police said: "We are cancelling our appeal to help find wanted 35-year-old William Smith who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Monday, November 3. Smith handed himself in to HMP Wandsworth today."
According to ITV News, which filmed his return, he was accompanied by his partner, who he hugged before speaking to prison staff at the prison's entrance.
Footage from the broadcaster also showed Mr Smith, wearing a tracksuit, running up a set of stairs outside the jail and having a cigarette before he returned inside.
Releases 'unacceptable', says Lammy after prisoner hands himself in
11:45 , Alastair LockhartFollowing Smith’s arrival at HMP Wandsworth, David Lammy said: "William Smith is back in custody. The spike in mistaken releases is unacceptable.
"We're modernising prison systems - replacing paper with digital tools to cut errors.
"We're working with police to recapture Brahim Kaddour-Cherif."
Prisoner hands himself back in
11:38 , Alastair LockhartSurrey Police said Billy Smith handed himself in to HMP Wandsworth after a manhunt was launched following his accidental release.
In a statement the force said: “We are cancelling our appeal to help find wanted 35-year-old William Smith who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Monday, 3 November.
“Smith handed himself in to HMP Wandsworth today.”
Prison governors in 'crisis talks' as hunt continues for wrongly released prisoners
11:13 , Megan HowePrison governors have been called in for crisis talks as a manhunt continues for two criminals released by mistake, including a migrant sex offender.
Police are trying to track down Algerian national Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth on October 29.
They are also searching for another inmate, Billy Smith, 35, accidentally released from the same south-west London prison on Monday.
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said prison chiefs were being summoned for a meeting on Thursday and a team of digital experts had been tasked with overhauling the "archaic" paper-based system of prisoner records.
She told the BBC: "We are deploying tech experts to try and help our brilliant men and women who work in our prisons, because they are working with reams and reams of paper in the 21st century, which is totally unacceptable.
"We are convening an urgent meeting of the governors of the prisons to try and figure out exactly what is going on on the ground, because these, again, are the men and women dealing with this day in day out."
Police release new footage of escaped prisoner Brahim Kaddour-Cherif who they believe is in London
10:57 , Megan Howe“We are actively searching for Brahim Kaddour Cherif who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 29 October,” Met Police has said.
“He is believed to be in London and has links to Tower Hamlets and Westminster. If you see him, please call 999 immediately.”
We are actively searching for Brahim Kaddour Cherif who was released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday 29 October.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 6, 2025
He is believed to be in London and has links to Tower Hamlets and Westminster.
If you see him, please call 999 immediately. pic.twitter.com/PBf2kgVgZU
'This is a full blown crisis' says Robert Jenrick
10:40 , Megan Howe“This is a full blown crisis,” Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick wrote on X.
“The Justice Secretary can’t hide the truth any longer. How many prisoners have been accidentally released? And how many are still at large?”
This is a full blown crisis.
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) November 5, 2025
The Justice Secretary can’t hide the truth any longer.
How many prisoners have been accidentally released? And how many are still at large? https://t.co/uSYrxsg2aN
Independent investigation into release of Epping sex offender to report back 'in a few weeks'
10:35 , Megan HoweAlex Davies-Jones said a review into the wrongful release of Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu will report back “in the next few weeks.”
The independent investigation, led by Dame Lynne Owens, is expected to identify points of failure and make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was jailed in September for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman.
He was sentenced to one year in prison, but a month later was accidentally freed.
'Mistakes will happen until issues are addressed' Labour MP says
09:05 , Megan HoweAndy Slaughter, a Labour MP and Chair of the Justice Committee, acknowledged that the reports on missing prisoners released in error are “extremely concerning, especially following the high-profile release [of Hadush Kebatu] from HMP Chelmsford last month”.
“Events such as this speak to a wider justice system at breaking point,” he told the BBC, adding that: “The current spate of releases in error will be repeated until the underlying failures are addressed”.
Around 40 more prisoners set to be wrongly release from jail before Christmas, minister admits
08:38 , Megan HoweAround 40 more prisoners are set to be wrongly released from jail before Christmas, a minister admitted, as the hunt for two on the run continued.
Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said the problem of inmates, including foreign offenders, being let free by mistake was not going to be “fixed overnight”.“
Any prisoners released in error is totally unacceptable,” she told BBC Breakfast.
“When the Tories left office it was around 17 a month.
“We are now facing around 22 a month being released in error.”
The minister sought to blame the “crisis” in Britain’s jails on the past Conservative governments.
She stressed there was “utter chaos” in the prison system.
“Sadly this is not going to be fixed overnight,” she added.
Tech experts were being brought in to try to reduce the number of errors and to stop prison officers have to rely on “reams and reams of paper” and an urgent review of the release system was being carried out.
Justice minister 'furious' about the prison release error
08:00 , Megan HoweJustice minister Alex Davies-Jones told Times Radio said she was "furious" about the situation.
She said: "What we're doing is we're addressing this issue directly (to) be ensuring that we are putting in checks and balances.
“We are convening the governors to ensure that this doesn't happen again."It's not going to be fixed overnight, sadly, I don't have a magic wand, but we are putting plans in place to actually fix the issues."
David Lammy's handling of questions at PMQs a 'disgrace', shadow justice secretary says
07:40 , Megan HoweThe shadow justice secretary has branded David Lammy’s handling of questions at PMQs yesterday over whether more asylum seekers have been released from jail as a “disgrace”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Robert Jenrick said: "The second convicted sex offender, illegal migrant in two weeks has been released accidentally from one of our prisons, despite the fact that the Justice Secretary after the first incident came to Parliament and said that he was putting in place the most robust checks to ensure this never happened again.
“It took six days for the prison service supposedly to even become aware that this had happened and inform the Metropolitan Police, who are now a week behind in the manhunt to find him.
“Then the Justice Secretary is informed about this on Tuesday night, didn't come clean.
"He spent the next morning, we're told, going out shopping for a suit, rather than taking charge of his department.
"He then comes to Parliament and doesn't answer five straight questions about this. I think it's a disgrace. It's a total dereliction of duty."
Average of 22 prisoners released in error every month, prison chair says
07:26 , Megan HoweMark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), has said there are an average of 22 prison releases in error every month.
He told BBC Breakfast: "The leaders of this service have known about this for over 12 months, but only now it's in the spotlight. Are they doing something to remedy it?
"The POA have asked for a royal commission, because we realise that the entire criminal justice system at this moment in time is in complete meltdown.
"It's not just prisons. It's probation, it's the court, it's the police. And we want a royal commission to discover not just what's gone wrong, but more importantly put it right."
What is the situation as of 7am this morning?
07:25 , Megan HoweA manhunt continues to find two HMP Wandsworth prisoners released in error just a month after the migrant sex offender was mistakenly released from an Essex prison.
Police are trying to track down convicted Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth last Wednesday, October 29.
They are also searching for another inmate, Billy Smith, 35, accidentally released from the same south-west London prison on Monday.
David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, is meanwhile under fire after reports emerged which suggested he was aware of Kaddour-Cherif's release and had prepared to address it when he filled in for Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, but did not.
Mr Lammy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, repeatedly failed to tell MPs whether any more asylum seekers had been mistakenly released from jail since the case of Epping hotel migrant Hadush Kebatu.
The story broke as PMQs were ending, and a comment released on Mr Lammy's behalf said he was "absolutely outraged" over Kaddour-Cherif's release.
Mr Lammy is understood to have been briefed about the case on Tuesday night, and The Times newspaper reported he had a statement ready to read out if the news broke, but did not do so for fear of pre-empting the Metropolitan Police.
The newspaper also said Mr Lammy rejected calls from Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to return to the Commons and give a statement on the error as aides believed it would be "career suicide".
The Ministry of Justice defended Mr Lammy's actions and pinned the blame on the crisis facing prisons.
A spokesman said: "The crisis in the prison system this Government inherited is such that basic information about individual cases can take unacceptably long to reach ministers."On entering the House, facts were still emerging about the case and the DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) had not been accurately informed of key details including the offender's immigration status."
Live coverage resumes
07:07 , Megan HoweThe Standard’s live coverage of the HMP Wandsworth prison blunders has resumed for its second day.
Follow along as we bring you the latest updates in the search for William Smith and Brahim Kaddour Cherif.
Live coverage ends
Wednesday 5 November 2025 21:15 , Jacob PhillipsThe Standard’s live coverage of the Wandsworth prison blunders has been paused.
Please return tomorrow to find out all the latest updates on the manhunts for William Smith and Brahim Kaddour Cherif.
Recap: Prisoner wrongly released after court error
Wednesday 5 November 2025 20:58 , Jacob PhillipsA fraudster was wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth following an admin error made in court, according to reports.
William ‘Billy’ Smith was sentenced to 45 months behind bars for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday and is understood to have appeared via a video link from the prison.
But he was set free after the court mistakenly told the prison that his custodial sentence was a suspended sentence, Sky News reported.
If Smith had been handed a suspended sentence, his prison sentence would have been delayed as long as he did not commit any new crimes or breach any orders.
You can read more about the mistake in the article below.
How prisoner was wrongly released from Wandsworth prison revealed
Prisoners will be mistakenly released again unless 'crisis-hit' prison system addressed, says London MP
Wednesday 5 November 2025 20:24 , Jacob PhillipsUnderlying problems across the “crisis-hit” prison system will lead to repeated mistaken releases of prisoners unless addressed, the chairman of the Commons Justice Committee has said.
Andy Slaughter said: “Reports that two prisoners have been ‘released in error’ from HMP Wandsworth are extremely concerning, especially following the high-profile release from HMP Chelmsford last month.
“Events such as this speak to a wider justice system at breaking point. Evidence taken by the Justice Committee has laid bare a crisis-hit prison system, starved of investment over many years, which is facing multi-faceted pressures, including overcrowding and understaffing within a decaying prison estate characterised by chaos and instability.”
The Labour MP added: “The committee visited HMP Wandsworth as part of its ‘tackling drugs in prisons’ inquiry and found an institution with multiple failings despite the best efforts of its staff.
“The report published just days ago warned the use of illicit drugs and the trade in them across prisons has reached ‘endemic’ levels.
“While the day-to-day running of prison security and public safety are paramount, the current spate of releases in error will be repeated until the underlying failures are addressed.”
Bring back Parliament from recess to discuss mistaken releases, say Lib Dems
Wednesday 5 November 2025 20:00 , Matt WattsParliament’s recess must be cancelled so David Lammy can return to the Commons to address the mistaken release of two prisoners from Wandsworth Prison, the Liberal Democrats said.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said: “After this appalling series of failures, recess must be cancelled so David Lammy can address Parliament tomorrow.
“Two prisoners have been wrongly released from the same jail in a single week — and the Government is seemingly trying to bury the news before recess.
“This is unacceptable. Ministers must face MPs and be held to account for this prison gates fiasco.”
The House of Commons goes into a short recess when it adjourns on Wednesday night and will return on Tuesday November 11.
Reform UK question whether David Lammy 'deliberately' withheld information
Wednesday 5 November 2025 18:40 , Jacob PhillipsReform UK questioned whether David Lammy “deliberately” withheld information from MPs about the prison release when he appeared in the Commons for Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said: “The question is, if David Lammy knew before he went into the House of Commons that information, then did he deliberately withhold that from the House of Commons?
“Which – I’ll be gentle about it – is at the very least poor form.”
Court mistake led to prisoner William Smith being released, reports say
Wednesday 5 November 2025 18:04 , Jacob PhillipsMore details have appeared about how prisoner William Smith was released from jail on Monday.
Smith was let out following a sentence mistake by the courts, Sky News reports.
He had been sentenced to 45 months behind bars for multiple fraud offences on Monday and is understood to have appeared via a video link from HMP Wandsworth.
But he was set free after a court mistakenly told the prison that his custodial sentence was a suspended sentence.
A suspended sentence means that a prison sentence is delayed as long as the offender does not commit any new crimes or breach any orders.
A correction was reportedly sent from the court to the prison but it went to the wrong person and was not received in time to stop Smith from leaving.
Recent reports had revealed HMP Wandsworth was 'unfit for purpose'
Wednesday 5 November 2025 17:46 , Jacob PhillipsA recent report into HMP Wandsworth had revealed that the prison remained “inhumane and unfit for purpose”
The prison’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) had said there were unacceptable staff shortages at the site, although it had made significant improvements following a catastrophic inspection last year.
Staffing is the most urgent issue at the Victorian category B men's jail, which was built in 1851, the IMB's report for 2024/25 found.
It said the level of staff absence was "unacceptable", describing how the prison of nearly 1,500 men was often run by fewer than 85 officers, while officers received inadequate training.
The BBC has reported that staff at HMP Wandsworth could not provide an accurate number of prisoners, and on average a third of staff were absent of any given day.
You can read more about the state of HMP Wandsworth in the piece below.
Scandal-hit London jail 'recovering' but still 'inhumane and unfit for purpose'
Released prisoner Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was due to be deported, reports say
Wednesday 5 November 2025 17:25 , Jacob PhillipsRegistered sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison, was set to be deported, according to reports.
The Times reports that Cherif was not an asylum seeker and entered the country legally on a visit visa in 2019.
But he is understood to have overstayed and was in the initial stages of being deported.
Released prisoner William Smith was from Woking, MP confirms
Wednesday 5 November 2025 17:14 , Jacob PhillipsLiberal Democrat MP Will Forster has said that it was “utterly unacceptable” that William Smith was wrongly released from prison, especially after Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was mistakenly let go from HMP Wandsworth last week.
The Woking MP confirmed that Mr Smith was from the Surrey town and most of his offences took place there.
Mr Forster said: “I have been informed that the police are actively working to apprehend this person as soon as possible, and they have reassured me that there is no indication of risk to the wider public.
“I understand that this is distressing for Woking residents that a prisoner wrongfully released might have returned to our town.
“This is yet another grave mistake from the Government. The public deserves a full explanation about how this has happened again.
“Both the Government and the Prison Service must own up to their failures and guarantee that these mistakes will stop happening once and for all.”
Met Police shares footage of Brahim Kaddour Cherif arrest
Wednesday 5 November 2025 17:11 , Jacob PhillipsAs part of its appeal to help find Brahim Kaddour Cherif, the Met Police has shared footage of the moment he was arrested earlier this year.
The Criminal can be seen wearing a beige cap and a matching gilet as he is handcuffed by a police officer.
Body cam footage later shows Cherif being placed in the back of a police van.
You can watch the footage below.
Brahim Kaddour Cherif 'has had a six-day head start' says the Met
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:54 , Jacob PhillipsThe Met Police has warned the public not to approach Brahim Kaddour Cherif but to call 999 immediately.
Commander Paul Trevers, who is overseeing the manhunt to find the released criminal, said: “It is just over 24 hours since we were informed of Cherif’s release.
“We launched an immediate manhunt and urgent enquiries have been ongoing since.
“Cherif has had a six-day head start but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts.
“We will continue to use all the means at our disposal but we are also appealing for the public's help to find him.
“We have seen in the very recent past how important alert members of the public reporting sightings can be.
“To assist with that effort we have released an image of Cherif and bodyworn video footage from an arrest in September this year.”
Met Police release picture of Brahim Kaddour Cherif as 'urgent investigation' underway
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:52 , Jacob PhillipsThe Met Police has said that an urgent investigation is underway to find registered sex offender Brahim Kaddour Cherif after he was mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth last week.
The force said it was informed of the release shortly after 1pm on Tuesday and immediately officers began searching for the missing criminal.
It has now confirmed that the released prisoner is Brahim Kaddour Cherif who is an Algerian national, with sources providing his name to the press earlier on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old is also known to use other variations of his name, including Ibrahim and is believed to have links to Tower Hamlets.
He is known to frequent the Westminster area.
The Met Police also confirmed it was the case that Cherif is a registered sex offender.
He was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure relating to an incident in March that year.
He was sentenced to an 18 month community order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years, the Met added.
Second prisoner released from HMP Wandsworth in error
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:30 , Jacob PhillipsA second prisoner has been released from HMP Wandsworth by mistake, Surrey Police has said.
The force has appealed to the public for help finding William Smith, 35, who was released in error on Monday, five days after Brahim Kaddour-Cherif was let out.
Surrey Police said it was carrying out a number of enquiries to try and locate Smith, who often goes by Billy.
Smith was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, during which he appeared via a live video link from HMP Wandsworth.
He is described as White, bald, and clean-shaven.
Smith was last seen wearing a navy long sleeve jumper with the Nike brand ‘tick’ across the front in white, navy blue tracksuit bottoms with a Nike ‘tick’ in white on the left pocket, and black trainers.
Smith has links to Woking but could be anywhere in Surrey.
Released prisoner revealed to be a convicted sex offender
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:11 , Jacob PhillipsBrahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, from Tower Hamlets, was most recently in court charged with breaching notification requirements as a convicted sex offender.
It was alleged that between July 18 and September 2 this year he "failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the notification requirements" by allegedly "failing to notify with police within three days of release from custody".
He pleaded not guilty to the charge on September 9, and at City of London magistrates court on October 28 he was found not guilty.
Court documents reveal released prisoner pleaded guilty to having a knife
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:07 , Jacob PhillipsBrahim Kaddour-Cherif was handed a six-week prison sentence in June at Southwark crown court, court records show, after he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.
He was already under a community order which was imposed by Inner London crown court in November last year.
Tooting MP 'horrified' to learn prisoner released by mistake two years after Daniel Khalife escaped Wandsworth Prison
Wednesday 5 November 2025 16:01 , Jacob PhillipsDr Rosena Allin-Khan has said she was “horrified” to learn that someone was mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison “with such a shocking list of offences”.
In a letter to the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, the Tooting MP said she was “expecting that all levers are being pulled to ensure his prompt return to prison”.
The MP explained that the prisoner, who she did not name, had been in custody on a charge of trespass with an intent to steal, but “also has a history of criminality, including sexual offences that will only compound the fears felt by many across our community”.
She insisted that the fact that the prisoner was released in a similar manner to the high-profile release of Hadush Kebatu “will be troubling for many”.
The MP told the Standard she has been raising concerns about Wandsworth Prison for many years and pointed out that former British Army network engineer Daniel Khalife managed to escape from the prison on September 9 2023, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: “I’m horrified to learn that someone was mistakenly released from Wandsworth Prison with such a shocking list of offences
“Local residents will quite rightly be deeply concerned. We urgently need answers from the Government and Ministry of Justice as to how this was allowed to happen.”
Released prisoner named as Brahim Kaddour-Cherif
Wednesday 5 November 2025 15:25 , Jacob PhillipsSeveral news outlets have now named the Algerian man mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth.
Sources have told the BBC that Brahim Kaddour-Cherif is the missing prisoner.
He most recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September on a charge of failing to comply with sex offender requirements, according to the broadcaster.
The Daily Mail has also named Kaddour-Cherif and said he was previously linked to an address in east London.
Recap: Who is Hadush Kebatu?
Wednesday 5 November 2025 15:18 , Jacob PhillipsSerious questions have been raised after a second prisoner was released from jail just five days after Epping sex offender Hadush Kebatu was let out of HMP Chelmsford.
Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered “strengthened checks” at prisons after the blunder over the wrongful freeing of the Ethiopian national.
He is understood to have been released following a “human error” before he was eventually tracked down in Finsbury Park in north London and deported.
But within a week, a second foreign prisoner has been released.
You can read more about Kebatu in the story below.
'Human error' by prison officer led to Epping sex offender Kebatu being wrongly freed
Conservative party criticise Lammy for dodging questions about mistaken prisoner release
Wednesday 5 November 2025 15:07 , Jacob PhillipsThe Conservative Party found out about the mistaken release of a prisoner some 15-20 minutes before the start of Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
During the session, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether any other asylum seekers had been released early, apart from Hadush Kebatu.
A spokesman for Kemi Badenoch said: “If we knew, one can only assume the Justice Secretary knew.”
The spokesman said James Cartlidge, who stood in for the Tory leader in the Commons, had given Mr Lammy “the opportunity to front up” but “he ducked it six times”.
Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the mistaken release as “shocking,” adding that the migrant defendant represents a “danger to the public”.
He said: “It is shocking that once again the Labour Government has mistakenly allowed a foreign criminal to be released from prison.
“The Algerian offender reportedly has previous sex attack convictions and is clearly a danger to the public. This comes hot on the heels of the mistaken release of Ethiopian sex offender Hadush Kebatu.”
Downing Street points finger at previous Tory government for prison release
Wednesday 5 November 2025 14:59 , Jacob PhillipsNo 10 has blamed the previous Tory government following the “utterly unacceptable” mistaken release of a second prisoner.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said urgent action had been needed to “restore faith in the justice system”, pointing out that jails had reached capacity.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman added: “We’ve been very clear as well there is no overnight fix.
“We completely accept that this type of case is utterly unacceptable and needs to be dealt with, and the system needs to be reformed and the appropriate checks need to be in place to stop this type of thing from ever happening.
“The public will rightly view any mistaken release of a prisoner from custody onto the streets as unacceptable.
“It’s importance the police are given the time and space to bring him back into custody. And we will look into the circumstances behind this as a matter of urgency.”
The case would be front and centre of a review into releases in error by Dame Lynne Owens, the official added.
PM was not aware of second migrant wrongly released until police announcement
Wednesday 5 November 2025 14:52 , Jacob PhillipsThe Prime Minister was not aware of the second migrant wrongly released from prison until the Metropolitan Police announcement, Downing Street suggested.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman told reporters on Wednesday: “The Met have released a statement I think in the last few minutes.”
He said “one mistaken release is one too many” and that the case was “utterly unacceptable”.
The official could not say when Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy became aware of the release, after he refused to answer multiple questions in the Chamber on whether another asylum-seeking offender had been mistakenly freed from prison since Hadush Kebatu.
Scotland Yard says officers carrying out 'urgent inquiries' to try and find Algerian prisoner
Wednesday 5 November 2025 14:49 , Jacob PhillipsThe Metropolitan Police has confirmed officers are searching for a prisoner freed by mistake last Wednesday.
A Met spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1300hrs on Tuesday November 4, the Met was informed by the Prison Service that a prisoner had been released in error from HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday October 29.
“The prisoner is a 24-year-old Algerian man.
“Officers are carrying out urgent inquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.”
Manhunt underway after second foreign prisoner mistakenly released within a week
Wednesday 5 November 2025 14:47 , Jacob PhillipsA manhunt is underway after a second foreign prisoner was mistakenly released from jail.
A 24-year-old Algerian man was accidentally freed from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London on October 29, but the mistake was only reported to the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday, the force said.
The incident happened five days after migrant Hadush Kebatu was wrongly released from HMP Chelmsford on October 24, sparking a large search effort.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy found out about the error at HMP Wandsworth overnight, it is understood.
The Tottenham MP said he had been left “absolutely outraged” by the second release within a week and said the “public deserve answers”.
