New UK laws for dealing with foreign prisoners

The UK introduced new legislation on Wednesday 25 June that changes the rules around when foreign prisoners can be deported, freeing up capacity and saving taxpayer money.

The new legislation will allow foreign prisoners to deported earlier into their sentence: 30% into their prison term as opposed to the current requirement of 50%.

The removal window will also be extended from 18 to 48 months before the end of the custodial part of an offender’s sentence.

Foreign offenders who are deported are permanently barred from re-entering the UK, with any attempt to return resulting in the immediate reactivation of their original sentence.

Combined with upcoming sentencing reforms, this could see many serving fixed-term sentences eligible for deportation after serving 10% of their sentence.

The Ministry of Justice said these changes to foreign deportation laws would help to solve the UK’s prison overpopulation problem, freeing up capacity and saving taxpayers money.

Each prison place costs taxpayers £54,000 per year

With foreign offenders comprising around 12% of the total prison population, the ability to deport these prisoners sooner is estimated to free up around 500 prison places per year.

The government said that on average, a single prison place in the United Kingdom costs £54,000 per year.

Early removal of foreign prisoners applies only to those on determinate sentences and excludes those held for terrorism-related offences. The government can also refuse deportation in certain circumstances.

“With prisons close to bursting, I’m clear we shouldn’t be giving bed and board to foreign criminals with no right to be here,” said Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood.

“These changes will get more of them on planes out of the country much sooner, saving taxpayers’ money and keeping our streets safe as part of our Plan for Change.”

“This Government’s message is crystal clear – if you come here and break our laws, you’ll be sent packing in record time,” she said.

The changes are expected to come into force in September, if they are approved by Parliament.

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