Early deportation of international criminals has soared, David Lammy proclaims
David Lammy told MPs more than 2,700 foreign national offenders were deported under the early removal scheme in the last year, up from just 1,560 in the final year of the Tory Government
The number of foreign criminals deported early under Labour has “rocketed” by 75%, the Justice Secretary has announced.
David Lammy told MPs more than 2,700 foreign national offenders were deported under the early removal scheme in the last year, up from just 1,560 in the final year of the Tory Government.
The Deputy Prime Minister claimed the figures showed the Government’s determination to sort out the prisons crisis. Speaking in the Commons during justice questions, he said: “We said that we are determined to remove foreign national offenders from our prisons sooner, and we have.
READ MORE: Nigel Farage accused of turning ‘blind eye’ to racism after candidate’s Lammy attackREAD MORE: Reform MP confronted as David Lammy blasts ‘1950s-style hate’ in racism row
“I am pleased to say that the number of foreign criminals removed from the country early has rocketed by 75% under this Government, more than 2,700 foreign national offenders were deported under the early removal scheme in the last year, up from just 1,560 under the last year the Tories were in charge.
“This is Labour delivering not only an acceleration but a step-change in getting dangerous criminals out of our country.”
The number of weekly removals under the scheme – which allows prisoners to be removed from the country early – rose to a weekly high of 114 in September, or 16 per day.
Earlier this year the Government unveiled new tough rules to ensure foreign criminals could be deported even earlier in their prison sentences, and the total number of FNOs returned has increased by 14% under Labour.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to double the number of foreign criminals, but when the Conservatives left office in July 2024 the number of FNOs removed every year was still below 2010 levels.
Jake Richards, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International said: “This Labour government is taking radical action to deport foreign criminals. Deportations are up and our changes are ensuring they happen earlier and faster than before.
“We will go further by rebalancing how human rights law is applied at home, and pursuing change internationally, to ensure offenders cannot abuse our laws. Labour said we would deport more foreign criminals, and we meant it.”
