Peston: Why wasn’t Kaddour-Cherif deported?

Peston: Why Wasn’t Kaddour-Cherif Deported?

Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian sex offender mistakenly released from HMP Wandsworth, had overstayed his visa. This situation raises deep concerns about how the UK’s visa regulations interact with the criminal justice system.

Background and Legal Context

According to official sources, Kaddour-Cherif was not deported because there were still criminal proceedings pending against him. The UK government’s policy prevents deportation while such cases are ongoing, unless both the police and the Crown Prosecution Service agree to it.

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Deportation Threshold and Case Details

Officials explained that none of Kaddour-Cherif’s convictions met the threshold for automatic deportation, which requires at least a 12-month custodial sentence. However, initial deportation steps—known as a stage one notification—had begun earlier this year, as his repeated offences were deemed contrary to the public good.

In November 2024, he was convicted of indecent exposure and received an 18-month community order. He was also placed on the sex offenders register.

Author’s Summary

The case of Brahim Kaddour-Cherif exposes weaknesses in how the UK balances ongoing criminal cases with immigration enforcement, revealing gaps in public safety procedures.

ITVX — 2025-11-06