Govt to expand deportation scheme for foreign culprits

The UK government announced on Sunday that it will expand a scheme forcing some foreign nationals to have appeals against convictions heard from abroad, to prevent them delaying deportations.

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The number of countries enrolled in the initiative will nearly treble to 23, with people from those nations now to be deported before they can appeal their convictions, it said.

In a separate announcement, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she intends to change the law so most foreign criminals will be deported immediately when they receive a prison sentence.

Foreign national offenders make up about 12% of the prison population, and the move could save money, according to Ms Mahmood.

The steps come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left Labour government faces intense domestic pressure over immigration, as Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party surges in polls.