Police are conducting a large‑scale manhunt after a prisoner escaped from a medical facility in south‑east London on Friday afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police said the man, identified as Anthony Lloyd, 38, was last seen at about 16:10 BST leaving a unit in Lewisham and heading in the direction of Catford. Officers believe he represents a potential danger both to himself and to members of the public.
Police description and appeal to the public
Lloyd is described by the force as white, around 5ft 8in tall and of medium build with short dark hair. At the time he left the facility he was wearing a grey‑blue T‑shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.
“We are conducting various significant enquiries to find Lloyd and return him to custody. We are concerned he poses a risk both to himself and the public, and would urge anyone who sees him to call 999 immediately. Do not approach him,”
The quote was attributed to Detective Superintendent Melanie Pressley, who is leading the search. The Met urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact officers urgently and provided the incident reference CAD4739/23Oct.
Background to the custody and transfer
Police said Lloyd was serving a custodial sentence imposed in 2025 after being convicted of actual bodily harm relating to an incident involving three emergency workers in Nottinghamshire. He received a 12‑month prison sentence and was moved to the Lewisham medical unit in September.
Officers warned that while Lloyd was last seen in Lewisham, he has links beyond the capital. The Met said he could be anywhere in London and has associations in Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside, increasing the geographic scope of enquiries.
What the police are doing and what residents should do
The force described the response as involving multi‑focal enquiries to locate Lloyd and return him to custody. Members of the public were told to call 999 immediately if they believe they have seen him, but not to approach him.
- Last seen: around 16:10 from a Lewisham medical unit, heading towards Catford.
- Description: white male, ~5ft 8in, medium build, short dark hair; wearing grey‑blue T‑shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, white trainers.
- Risk: police say he poses a risk to himself and the public; do not approach — call 999 quoting CAD4739/23Oct.
Local impact and context
Escapes from secure medical units are rare but carry heightened public concern because detainees may be receiving treatment for complex needs and may not be under the same immediate physical constraints as in a mainstream prison. The Met’s swift public appeal reflects that concern and the need to locate the individual quickly to ensure safety.
Residents in south‑east London and surrounding counties should expect an elevated police presence while enquiries continue. Transport hubs and local policing teams often review CCTV and other lines of inquiry rapidly in such cases; the Met has not provided further operational detail but asked for any relevant sightings.
Anyone with information about Lloyd’s whereabouts is asked to call 999 immediately and quote the incident reference CAD4739/23Oct. Alternatively, information can be provided to the Metropolitan Police through their non‑emergency channels if it is not urgent.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Anthony Lloyd, 38 |
| Last seen | ~16:10 BST, Lewisham (heading towards Catford) |
| Clothing | Grey‑blue T‑shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, white trainers |
| Police reference | CAD4739/23Oct |
The Met has appealed for vigilance across London and the linked counties while detectives continue their searches. Local residents are asked to secure properties, check CCTV where available, and report any possible sightings without attempting to intervene.
Further updates are expected as enquiries progress and as police work to trace Lloyd’s movements since he left the medical unit.
