LONDON — British police said Wednesday they had launched a manhunt for two prisoners, including an Algerian, mistakenly released from jail, angering parliamentarians at the latest mix-up committed by the UK’s beleaguered prison system.

The error heaps further embarrassment on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s struggling centre-left Labour government as the hard-right, anti-immigrant Reform UK party surges in national polls.

London’s Metropolitan Police force said in a statement it was looking for 24-year-old Brahim Kaddour Cherif, a registered sex offender, after he was released in error a week ago.

“Cherif has had a six-day head start but we are working urgently to close the gap and establish his whereabouts,” said commander Paul Trevers, who is leading the investigation.

A police stateme

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