The 'criminals charter' that lets terrorists stay

DOZENS of extremists deemed a threat to national security face 24/7 monitoring because human rights laws prevent their deportations, the Sunday Express can reveal.

- MICHAEL KNOWLES

The Home Office sparked fury by admitting some 170 foreign nationals are living in the UK under restrictions as they are considered dangerous - but cannot be booted out.

And more than half "have been involved in terrorism or extremism-related activities", this newspaper can reveal.

The shocking revelations sparked calls to radically overhaul human rights laws and leave the European Convention on Human Rights, with critics branding it a "criminal's charter for the very worst people in our society".

A Home Office minister admitted it is "disgraceful" that terrorists have been able to stay, vowing tough laws which received Royal Assent last week will allow the police, security services and immigration enforcement teams to track "their every move through electronic monitoring" while Labour tries to deport them "rapidly".

A Government Equality Impact Assessment published as part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill revealed: "Provisions for imposing conditions on immigration leave, where a foreign national poses a threat to the public but cannot be removed from the UK, may be more likely to affect certain age groups.

"Around 170 people are currently on restricted leave, with over half having been involved in terrorism or extremism-related activities."