Thousands of foreign criminals bid to stay

ALMOST half of foreign criminals refuse to leave the country and decide to fight a deportation order, latest figures show.

- By Tony Whitfield and David Williamson

Just 2,632 or 51% were removed from prison under the Early Removal Scheme between July 2024 when Labour came to power and this July.

That means 49% have decided to fight their deportation on human rights grounds.

And they will be released on to the streets after serving their sentence as they cannot be detained indefinitely, and while taxpayer-funded appeals are launched.

The figures were released following a parliamentary question.

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "Those who come to this country and break our laws must be deported -

'Soft-touch Britain'

it's as simple as that.

"It's a complete scandal that the Government is failing to remove nearly half of foreign criminals under their Early Release Scheme before they're let out on to the streets."

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said: "The fact half of foreign national offenders are allowed to stay in this country is a national embarrassment.

"It's another example of soft-touch Britain."

The Home Office said the number volunteering to be removed early was up 10% on the previous year, when 2,385 left.

A government spokesperson said: "We are committed to deporting foreign national offenders and aim to remove them from the UK at the earliest opportunity.

"Those who challenge early removal may be detained for a reasonable period after the end of their custodial sentence while we pursue deportation.

"Rigorous measures are in place to manage foreign offenders in the community, including electronic monitoring," they added.

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