The Ministry of Justice faces a crisis as it has come to light that two inmates were mistakenly released from the same prison just days apart. Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a registered sex offender, was erroneously let go from HMP Wandsworth last week, with the authorities only being informed six days later. Additionally, another prisoner, William Smith, a fraudster known as Billy, was also released due to a mix-up in court records.
Both men are now subjects of police manhunts, following a series of recent blunders in the justice system, including the mistaken release of another offender, Hadush Kebatu, from HMP Chelmsford. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, acting as Justice Secretary, expressed his outrage and concern over Kaddour-Cherif’s release, highlighting systemic flaws in the criminal justice system.
Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, had been in the process of deportation when he vanished on October 29. He had a history of overstaying his visa since his legal entry into the UK in 2019. The authorities only became aware of his release on Tuesday, and subsequent reports revealed concerning incidents involving the offender, including exposing himself to a woman and facing charges of burglary and handling stolen goods.
Despite efforts to rectify the error in Smith’s case, he was mistakenly set free from Wandsworth after being confused with his co-defendant, who received a suspended sentence. This mix-up in sentencing information led to Smith’s premature release, raising further questions about the accuracy and efficiency of the justice system.
As the search for the released prisoners continues, the public is urged to assist in locating them. The unfolding events have sparked criticism from various political figures, with calls for accountability and improvements to prevent such errors from recurring.