Foreign criminals will now face immediate deportation upon
sentencing, following a landmark law change introduced by the
Labour Government.
This new power will remove foreign national offenders from
British prisons and streets without delay - saving taxpayer
money, freeing up prison capacity, and enhancing public
safety.
This new measure builds on legislation passed in June, which
reduced the minimum custodial period for deportation from 50% to
just 30% of a sentence. Together, these reforms mark a
step-change in how Britain deals with foreign offenders.
Under the Conservatives, the number of foreign prisoners in the
UK's prisons remained stagnant. Their reliance on Prison Transfer
Agreements (PTAs) - meant to return offenders to serve sentences
in their home countries - failed to deliver results.
Between 2010 and 2023, just 945 foreign prisoners were returned
under PTAs – equivalent to just over one per week. And
in the final full year of Tory government, returns fell to their
lowest level since 2011, with only 33 removals.
A PTA signed with Albania in 2021 resulted in the transfer of 0
prisoners, until it was eventually revised in 2023. Despite being
hailed by the Conservatives as “groundbreaking,” this revised
arrangement even then only resulted in 8 removals.
Other PTAs signed by the Tories, including those with Jamaica,
India, and Iraq, similarly proved ineffective - often requiring
prisoner consent and yielding negligible returns.
Despite repeated promises, the Tories' record on removing foreign
offenders was defined by delay and dysfunction.
Likewise, when it comes to making our streets safer and
addressing prison capacity, Nigel Farage's Reform Party has
offered little more than empty headlines. Their plans are
unfunded and unworkable, giving further credence to allegations
that Farage offers anger but no answers.
In contrast, this Labour Government has made removing foreign
national offenders a top priority, with almost 5,200
deported since July 2024 - an increase of 14% compared to the
same 12 months prior.
Labour's funded plans have also involved investing £5 million to
deploy specialist staff across 80 prisons, tasked with
accelerating removals. These individuals are all now in
post.
This decisive action builds on the relentless work during the
Government's first year in office to fix the foundations of the
broken asylum system we inherited which has now seen 35,000
people with no right to be here returned since the
election.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, ,
said:
"This Government is taking radical action to deport foreign
criminals, as part of our Plan for Change. Deportations are up
under this Government, and with this new law they will happen
earlier and faster than ever before.
“Our message is clear: if you abuse our hospitality and break our
laws, we will send you packing.”
Ends
Notes:
On the Conservative's PTA with Albania:
UK and Albania agree
groundbreaking new arrangement on prisoner transfers -
GOV.UK
On the Conservative's PTA with Jamaica:
UK signs deal to send
Jamaican prisoners home - GOV.UK
On removals of FNOs since 2010:
Written questions and
answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK
Parliament
On the success of various PTAs, including Albania, Jamaica,
India and Iraq:
Written questions and
answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK
Parliament
On Reform's prison plans:
Nigel Farage's barmy Army
plan for portakabin prisons 'would risk national security' -
The Mirror
