Police Issue 999 Alert for Man Who Escaped Lewisham Health Unit

Londoners who spot a specific 38-year-old man are being told to dial 999 immediately and keep their distance. The Metropolitan Police have launched a wide search for Anthony Lloyd, who escaped from a health unit in Lewisham shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The force warns that Lloyd poses a direct risk to himself and to the general public.

Lloyd forced his way out of the facility in the southeast of the city. Officers last saw him at 4:10 p.m. moving toward Catford. Police describe him as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build and short dark hair. At the time of his escape, he was wearing a grey-blue T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, and white trainers.

The man was convicted in 2025 of actual bodily harm. That conviction stemmed from an incident in Nottinghamshire involving three emergency services workers. He received a 12-month prison sentence. In September, he was transferred to the Lewisham medical facility where he broke free this week.

Detective Superintendent Melanie Pressley is leading the investigation. She stated that officers are conducting various inquiries to locate Lloyd and return him to custody. Pressley emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging anyone who sees him to call 999 without approaching. She also appealed for any information, no matter how small, to be reported as a matter of urgency.

While the primary search is focused on the capital, police note that Lloyd has connections to several other regions. These include Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Merseyside. Because of these links, officers believe he could be located anywhere in London or potentially nearby.

Members of the public are instructed to call 999 if they recognize Lloyd. They should quote the reference CAD4739/23Oct to connect their report to this specific incident.