Media: Foreign offenders face instant deportation under UK prison reform plan

Foreign nationals convicted of crimes in the UK will be deported immediately after sentencing under new proposals aimed at easing the country’s prison overcrowding crisis.

The recommendations, set to be unveiled this week as part of an independent review of sentencing, would see foreign criminals sentenced to under three years in prison removed from the UK “as soon as operationally possible,” rather than serving their time in British jails, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The review, led by former Justice Secretary David Gauke, calls for the scrapping of the current law that allows deportation only after half of the custodial sentence is served. Under existing rules, a burglar sentenced to three years can be deported only after around seven months behind bars. The new policy would allow for deportation immediately after sentencing.

“There is no place in our society for criminals who come to this country and break our laws, but it is clear the current system for deporting foreign criminals is not working – and the taxpayer is footing the bill,” said Mr Gauke. “Those sentenced to custody for less than three years should expect to be immediately deported, and further changes should be made to the early removal scheme to enable the Home Office to remove FNOs as quickly as possible. This will free up valuable space in prison, save the taxpayer money and ultimately protect the public.”

The plan would also expand powers for the early deportation of those sentenced to more than three years. Under the proposed changes, the Government could deport offenders after serving 30 per cent of their custodial term rather than the current 50 per cent. This could see a major drug trafficker sentenced to 12 years removed from the UK within just two years.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to accept the recommendations. Public support appears strong: a YouGov poll of 2,300 adults found that 82 per cent back early release and deportation of foreign offenders to ease pressure on prisons, surpassing support for new jail construction or alternatives like house arrest.

By Vafa Guliyeva