Authorities have launched a full-scale manhunt after a serious security lapse led to the wrongful release of a convicted sex offender from HMP Wandsworth.
Alarm Raised After Convicted Sex Offender Escapes Due to Prison Blunder
Police are urgently searching for Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, a 24-year-old Algerian national, who was mistakenly freed from the south London prison last week. He is a registered sex offender with a conviction for indecent exposure and is believed to pose a risk to the public.
Known Offender With London Connections On The Run
Kaddour-Cherif, who also uses the name Ibrahim, was convicted in November 2024 for an indecent exposure incident that took place earlier that March.
He received an 18-month community order and was added to the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years.
The Metropolitan Police have now released previous arrest footage of the fugitive in an effort to jog the public’s memory and assist in locating him.
He is believed to have ties to Tower Hamlets and is known to frequent areas in Westminster. Police warn that he may be using alternative aliases to avoid detection.
“Anyone who sees Cherif is asked not to approach him but to call 999 immediately. Anyone who has other information about his movements should call 101.”
A Deepening Crisis at Wandsworth Prison
This incident comes just weeks after Wandsworth Prison faced sharp criticism for another major error—raising renewed concerns over its internal processes and the effectiveness of prisoner tracking protocols.
The Ministry of Justice has yet to release a full statement, but sources within the prison system suggest a review is imminent. The question on many minds now is: how did this happen again?
In a repeat of troubling security breaches, a convicted sex offender is now at large after being wrongly released from Wandsworth Prison. The incident has reignited debate over the prison’s operations and internal failings.
Public Safety Appeal
Met Police are urging the public to remain vigilant. If spotted, the public should not approach Cherif under any circumstance.
Instead, authorities are asking for:
- Immediate calls to 999 if Cherif is seen.
- Tip-offs to 101 for any other related information.
The situation has sparked fresh debate among community safety advocates, calling for stricter oversight of high-risk individuals within the prison system.
As the search intensifies across London, especially in east and central parts, authorities are banking on public cooperation to swiftly locate the fugitive.
