Minister can’t guarantee that murderers or rapists will spend any time in prison under ‘deport now, appeal later’ scheme
Offenders could go free in home countries under ‘deport now, appeal later’ expansion
- The UK government has expanded its "deport now, appeal later" scheme, allowing foreign criminals to be removed from the country before their human rights appeals are heard.
- The scheme now covers 23 countries, with appeals conducted via video link from the offender's country of origin.
- Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the UK cannot guarantee offenders will be imprisoned in their home countries, but said the scheme saves taxpayers £54,000 per prisoner and frees up UK prison space.
- Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the expansion aims to stop foreign criminals exploiting the immigration system by delaying their removal.
- While the Labour government has increased foreign offender deportations by 14 per cent, critics argue the scheme is a minor measure compared to overall migration challenges.