A young offender due to be deported to Ghana has escaped from police custody at a London hospital for the second time in eight days, prompting a Metropolitan Police review into how he managed to flee again.
Daniel Boakye, 21, a gang member and drill rapper serving time at HMP Feltham for armed robberies, fled Lewisham Hospital in south east London at approximately 3:05pm on Sunday 15 February whilst receiving medical treatment under police supervision.
Officers gave chase but were unable to detain Boakye before he left the building. He remains at large and is described as black, of medium height and slim build. At the time of his escape he was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark Nike jacket.
The Sunday escape marks Boakye’s second successful break from custody within a week. He had previously absconded from West Middlesex University Hospital on Tuesday of last week before being recaptured the following Wednesday.
Following his first escape, Boakye was located at a property in Thamesmead before police caught up with him. Despite being returned to custody, he managed to flee again just days later during another hospital visit.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman confirmed: “Daniel Boakye was in police custody at the hospital receiving medical treatment when he fled. Officers gave chase but could not detain Boakye before he left the building.”
She added: “We are currently reviewing this incident to fully understand the events which unfolded. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is aware.”
The repeated escapes raise serious questions about security arrangements for prisoners requiring hospital treatment, particularly those classified as dangerous. The Directorate of Professional Standards involvement indicates the force is treating the custody failures as a significant matter requiring formal examination.
Boakye’s multiple successful escapes come just months before he was due to be deported to Ghana. Government sources have indicated his deportation remains “actively pursued” despite his current status as a fugitive.
The HMP Feltham inmate was originally imprisoned for a string of armed robberies. His classification as dangerous alongside his gang membership and repeated escape record has heightened concerns about his time at large in the community.
Police are appealing for information about Boakye’s whereabouts and urging members of the public not to approach him directly. The Metropolitan Police continue searching for him whilst the professional standards investigation into the circumstances of both escapes proceeds simultaneously.
The review will examine security protocols for transporting and guarding prisoners requiring medical treatment at NHS facilities, an area that has previously presented challenges for prison and police authorities managing high-risk individuals.
