An urgent public appeal has been issued after a prisoner absconded from a medical facility in Lewisham on Friday afternoon. Anthony Lloyd, 38, was last seen at about 4.10pm on 23 October after leaving the unit by force. He was seen heading towards Catford.
The appeal asks members of the public not to approach him. Officers have said they are concerned that he may pose a risk both to himself and to other people, and that anyone who sees him should call 999 immediately. The request is for information to be passed directly to the emergency service, rather than for people to try to identify, follow or intervene with someone themselves.
What the appeal says
The description released with the appeal identifies Lloyd as white, about 5ft 8in tall and of medium build, with short dark hair. When he was last seen, he was wearing a grey-blue T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers. Those details describe the time he left the unit and should not be treated as confirmation of what he may be wearing now.
The public notice says officers are carrying out significant enquiries to locate him and return him to custody. It states that he could be anywhere in London and lists connections with Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside. Those reported links do not establish his current location, but they form part of the information being used in the search.
Anyone who has a possible sighting or information that could help identify his whereabouts is asked to call 999 and use the reference CAD4739/23Oct. The appeal stresses that information may be useful even where a person does not know whether it is significant. The immediate instruction for a sighting is clear: maintain distance and contact the emergency service.
Limits of the information made public
The appeal does not name the medical facility or set out the reason for Lloyd’s admission. It also does not describe the events leading up to his departure beyond saying that he forced his way out. No medical condition, treatment or personal circumstances should be inferred from the fact that he was at a medical facility.
Similarly, the announcement does not set out any new allegation or a further offence connected with the absconding. Its purpose is to locate a named prisoner and return him to custody. The public warning is a safety measure, not a determination of responsibility for any separate matter.
The appeal was issued after the last confirmed sighting in Lewisham. It does not announce an arrest, a return to custody or any later outcome. Until further information is formally released, the publicly confirmed position is that officers are seeking information and asking people who see Lloyd not to approach him.
Why the distinction matters
Public appeals can help investigators reach people who were in the area, may recognise a description, or have noticed a detail that has not yet been reported. They also need to be handled carefully. Circulating a name and description does not make a member of the public responsible for resolving the search, and it does not justify attempts to confront somebody who may resemble the person sought.
For people in Lewisham, Catford and elsewhere in London, the practical message is limited and direct. Anyone with urgent information or a possible sighting should call 999, quote CAD4739/23Oct and keep clear. No further details about the search’s outcome have been made public in the appeal.
