Foreign prisoners to be deported earlier under law change

The UK Government is set to introduce new legislation aimed at addressing prison overcrowding by expediting the deportation of foreign inmates. Under the proposed changes, foreign criminals serving fixed-term sentences could be deported after serving just 30% of their sentence, compared to the current 50% threshold. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to free up prison space and reduce costs, with the Ministry of Justice estimating that around 500 prison cells could be liberated annually.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the importance of removing foreign offenders who have no right to remain in the UK, highlighting the financial benefits and the potential to enhance public safety. However, those serving sentences for terror-related offences are excluded from this early removal scheme.

Further reforms include extending the window for deportation to 48 months before the end of a jail term. Once deported, offenders are banned from re-entering the UK, with any attempt to return resulting in the reactivation of their original prison sentence. These changes are part of a series of reforms following an independent sentencing review and are anticipated to take effect by September, pending parliamentary approval.