Manhunt Intensifies After Brahim Kaddour-Cherif Mistakenly Released From Wandsworth Prison
The mistaken release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a convicted sex offender, from Wandsworth Prison has ignited public outrage and a nationwide police search, highlighting serious issues within the UK's prison system.
Background and Conviction
Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, became widely known after his unexpected release. Until recently, he was mainly known through police records and legal documents.
- Convicted in November 2024 for indecent exposure related to an incident earlier that year.
- Sentenced to an 18-month community order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.
- He legally entered the UK in 2019 on a visitor’s visa but overstayed.
- Was in early deportation procedures at the time of his release.
Ongoing Police Efforts
Metropolitan Police have focused their search efforts in Tower Hamlets and Westminster, areas connected to Kaddour-Cherif.
Incident and Response Delays
The circumstances of Kaddour-Cherif’s erroneous release remain unclear amid bureaucratic complications. An investigation revealed:
- The release occurred on October 29, 2025.
- The Metropolitan Police were not informed until November 4, almost a week later.
According to Sky News, “the error occurred on October 29, but the Metropolitan Police were not notified until nearly a week later, on November 4.”
BBC News reports that Kaddour-Cherif “is a registered sex offender, convicted in November 2024 for indecent exposure... resulting in an 18-month community order and a five-year placement on the sex offenders’ register.”
The delay in notification and procedural errors have fueled public concern about systemic failures in the prison system.
Summary
The accidental release of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif exposed critical lapses in prison management and communication, triggering a widespread manhunt and intensifying debate on prison reform in the UK.