In a glaring administrative error, two inmates were mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, a Victorian-era prison in London, drawing sharp criticism of the UK’s overcrowded and under-resourced prison system. Billy Smith, 35, who was sentenced to nearly four years for multiple frauds, surrendered himself on Thursday after being accidentally freed on Monday. Meanwhile, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, a registered sex offender serving time for trespass with intent to steal, remains at large after his erroneous release on October 29. The Algerian national, who had overstayed his visa, was in the initial stages of deportation. These incidents have reignited scrutiny of Wandsworth, which faced similar criticism two years ago when another inmate escaped by clinging to a food delivery truck. The blunders follow stricter controls implemented after Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an asylum-seeker convicted of sexual assault, was mistakenly released from Chelmsford Prison in October. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister David Lammy expressed outrage, blaming the previous Conservative government for systemic failures. Government data reveals a 128% increase in erroneous releases, with 262 cases recorded in the year ending March 2025. Critics argue the Labour government’s decision to release prisoners early to alleviate overcrowding has exacerbated the issue.
Mistakenly released UK prisoner turns himself in as search continues for second freed convict
