Dramatic police bodycam footage has revealed the moment officers recaptured a prisoner who was wrongly released from HMP Wandsworth in a major security blunder that has raised serious questions about prison safety protocols.
The video, obtained exclusively by The Independent, shows 21-year-old Mohammed Abdullah being apprehended by Metropolitan Police officers just hours after his mistaken release from the Category B prison in south-west London.
Security Breach Exposed
The incident occurred when Abdullah, who was on remand awaiting sentencing for robbery and burglary offences, was released in error despite being denied bail at a previous court hearing. The prison service confirmed the "serious incident" and launched an immediate investigation into how such a fundamental failure could occur.
In the bodycam footage, officers can be seen approaching Abdullah on a residential street, with one officer stating: "You've been released in error from prison, so you need to come back with us."
Rapid Response and Recapture
Police moved quickly to locate and detain Abdullah after being alerted to the mistaken release. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that he was apprehended within hours of the error being discovered, preventing any potential risk to the public.
A Prison Service spokesperson stated: "We have launched an urgent investigation into how this unacceptable release happened. The prisoner was quickly returned to custody."
Growing Concerns Over Prison Security
This incident comes amid mounting concerns about security and staffing issues within the UK's prison system. HMP Wandsworth, which dates back to the 19th century, has faced repeated criticism over conditions and security lapses in recent years.
The error raises serious questions about verification procedures for prisoner releases and highlights potential vulnerabilities in the system that could be exploited by more dangerous offenders.
Prison reform advocates have described the incident as "deeply worrying" and called for an urgent review of release protocols across the prison estate to prevent similar occurrences.
