'Complete scandal' as foreign criminals refuse to leave UK

Almost half of foreign criminals refuse to leave the country and decide to fight a deportation order, latest figures have showed. Just 2,632 or 51% were removed directly from prison under the Early Removal Scheme between July 2024 and this July.

That means 49% have decided to fight their deportation on human rights grounds. And they will be released onto 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, however the number refusing to leave the UK voluntarily has provoked anger.

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

"Given what we know about reoffending rates of those released early, this is a clear danger to the public."

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said: "The fact that half of foreign national offenders are allowed to stay in this country is a national embarrassment. It's yet another example of soft-touch Britain.

"Under a Reform UK government, any foreign criminals would be immediately deported after their prison sentence ends. No ifs, no buts."

The Home Office said the number who volunteered to be removed early was up 10% on the previous 12 months, when 2,385 left.

And of total returns since Labour came to power in July 2024, 5,179 were foreign offenders, an increase of 14% compared to the 4,532 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior.

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. We remain focused on managing cases through the legal process so we can remove any barriers to their deportation."