Brahim Kaddour Cherif

A manhunt is underway for 24-year-old Algerian national Brahim Kaddour Cherif, who was erroneously released from HMP Wandsworth last week. The Metropolitan Police were informed of the administrative error shortly after 13:00hrs on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, and immediately launched a search operation.

Cherif, also known by the variation Ibrahim, is a registered sex offender. He was convicted in November 2024 of indecent exposure stemming from an incident in March 2024. For this offence, he received an 18-month community order and was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years. Despite the community sentence, his presence in a prison facility suggests possible additional circumstances or breaches leading to his incarceration at HMP Wandsworth.

Commander Paul Trevers, overseeing the investigation, stated: "It is just over 24 hours since we were informed of Cherif’s release. We launched an immediate manhunt and urgent enquiries have been ongoing since. Cherif has had a six-day head start but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts." The police have released an image of Cherif and bodyworn video footage from his arrest on 9 September 2025 to aid public recognition.

Cherif is believed to have links to Tower Hamlets and is known to frequent the Westminster area in London. The Metropolitan Police have urged the public not to approach him if sighted, but to call 999 immediately. For other information on his movements, contact 101. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in prisoner management and tracking within the justice system, as reported by the Metropolitan Police news service.