UK Government Expedites Deportation of Foreign Criminals

The UK government has announced a £5 million investment to expedite the deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) from prisons in England and Wales, with plans for a new immigration squad to be operational by April 1. This initiative aims to alleviate overcrowding in prisons, where FNOs currently represent about 12% of the total population. The specialist staff will work across 80 jails to identify and manage deportation cases, enabling the removal of offenders up to 18 months before their sentences end and facilitating their transfer to serve time in their home countries. Since July 2024, there has been a reported 23% increase in FNO removals compared to the previous year, with 2,580 offenders deported. The total prison population has reached 87,199, prompting the government to implement measures to find an additional 14,000 cell spaces by 2031. Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson emphasized that taxpayers should not bear the cost of incarcerating foreign criminals who negatively impact communities.