£5 Million Blitz to Speed Up Deportation of Foreign Criminals
The UK government is shelling out £5 million to fast-track the deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs). This sharp move targets prison overcrowding and aims to save taxpayers’ cash.
Special Squad Targets 80 Prisons in England and Wales
The cash boost funds a specialist deportation team to operate across 80 prisons in England and Wales. Their mission:
- Speed up the removal of foreign criminals
- Support the Home Office in managing deportation cases
- Push cases swiftly through the immigration system
Foreign offenders make up roughly 12% of the prison population. The government believes quicker removals will ease overcrowding and chuck out criminals with no right to stay.
Deportations Surge by 23% Since July
Deportation numbers are on the up. Since July 2024, 2,580 foreign national offenders have been kicked out — a 23% rise on last year.
Government Promises Tougher Action
James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, said:
“It cannot be right for British taxpayers to foot the bill for jailing foreign criminals who have brought misery to our communities.”
“Under this government, removals are up by nearly a quarter. We’re now taking action to ensure this is done swifter, easing pressure on overcrowded prisons and on the public purse.”
“This is part of our Plan for Change – fixing the broken prison system we inherited and keeping our streets safe.”
New Jobs and Early Removal Scheme Ramp Up
- The funding will create 82 specialist jobs, set to be fully active by April 2025.
- Thousands are already fast-tracked through the Early Removal Scheme – getting deported up to 18 months before completing their sentences.
- Some offenders serve their prison time back in their home countries, cutting UK prison numbers further.
The government vows to keep ramping up removals, tighten border controls, and reduce strain on the legal system.
