Latest news with #FNOs
New Statesman
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
The prisons crisis demands a new era of reform
Photo by In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images We have a prison population crisis that must be addressed urgently. Our prisons are close to being full (with 88,087 inmates) and the demand for places is growing faster than it is possible to build new cells. Unless action is taken to reduce demand in the next few months, we will either have to undertake a programme of emergency early releases or be unable to place new offenders in custody. That was the bleak context when I was approached last September by the government to chair an independent review on sentencing policy, assisted by a panel of experts from across the criminal justice system. At the time, the expectation was that prison capacity would be reached in spring 2026. Since then, matters have become more acute as the prison population has risen even faster than anticipated. Last week, the Ministry of Justice revealed that the adult male estate will be full by November. Considering the need for a precautionary buffer, by early 2028 demand for prison places needs to be reduced by 9,500 compared to current projections. There is no uncontentious way to do this, although some argue that there are two relatively easy ways of doing this. The first is to deport foreign national offenders (FNOs), of whom there are approximately 10,800 in our prisons. More could be deported, it is argued. We agree and have set out proposals on how to do so. But claims that this can solve the problem entirely are unfortunately very wide of the mark. For a start, approximately a third of FNOs are on remand awaiting trial. For some nationalities, we have no functioning relationship with an FNO's home state, so they will not accept them back. Even where we can deport someone, unless we have a prisoner exchange agreement, there is no guarantee that an offender would be sent to prison in their home country. For serious offenders, it would be wrong for them to escape time in prison altogether. The second suggestion is that if only we accelerated the courts process, we could reduce the remand population, which currently stands at over 17,000. Again, there is a very good case for reducing the courts backlog. Current waiting times are too long for defendants and complainants and doing so would reduce the remand population. But although some on remand will be acquitted or have already served their time, a large majority ultimately will be convicted and have more time to serve. Furthermore, tens of thousands of defendants are currently on bail. Some of those defendants will eventually be convicted and sentenced to prison. The point here is not that we should ignore the courts backlog (Brian Leveson will be reporting on this shortly), but that it is not the solution to the prison capacity crisis in the short term. Instead, we have focused on what can make a significant difference to the numbers. The reoffending rates for those receiving short custodial sentences are very high. A better approach to continuing to use short sentences as frequently as we do would be to strengthen community sentences (both by widening the use of sanctions available to the courts and enhancing the capacity of the probation service) and only using short sentences in exceptional circumstances. One area of the sentencing regime that works well is suspended sentences – compliance with conditions is relatively high and reoffending is relatively low. We recommend allowing them to be used more widely. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe For those who do go to prison, we need a change of approach. We recommend a progression model that means that well-behaving prisoners can be released earlier than is currently the case, but that there is also a second stage in the sentence where offenders are monitored much more closely in the community. Technology creates new opportunities to do that. A significant cause of the surging prison population has been the increased use of recall, when an offender out on licence is returned to prison as a consequence of breaching the terms of that licence. In 1993, there were fewer than a hundred recalled prisoners and even in my time as justice secretary in 2018-19 it was just 6,000. There are now over 13,000. We recommend a fundamental reform of this system to ensure that recall is only used when necessary. All of these measures should be sufficient to prevent our prisons from overflowing. But a successful long-term approach means they need to be accompanied by measures to ensure that we can adequately deal with offenders in the community. The probation service, third sector organisations that assist in rehabilitation, drug and mental health treatment, and approved premises for ex-prisoners reintegrating into society are all vital to bring down reoffending and can be neglected if resources are diverted into supporting an ever larger prison population. In the longer term, the best way to reduce the prison population is to cut reoffending, and these areas can play an important part. There is an opportunity to move in a more positive direction in which prison continues to play an important part in our system but that we make better use of the alternatives to custody, bringing down reoffending and reducing the number of victims. Necessity has created an opportunity to deliver important and meaningful reform. I hope it is an opportunity that the government will take. David Gauke is the former justice secretary and chaired the government's independent sentencing review. Related
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Home Office shares new clip of asylum seekers and criminals being kicked out
New data shows there have been nearly 30,000 returns of people since the general election as the Home Office releases new footage of people being kicked out Home Office video shows people being deported from the UK Nearly 30,000 failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals have been kicked out of the UK since the general election, new figures show. The Home Office has released footage of 47 people arriving in Albania after authorities found they had no right to be in the country. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said removals had been ramped up, with a 23% rise in enforced returns after the Tories left the asylum system in chaos. And the number of criminals from overseas has gone up by 14% since July 5 last year, when Labour came to power, the data reveals. Ms Cooper said: "The rules need to be respected and enforced. "That is why we have substantially increased immigration enforcement - taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK. The work of Immigration Enforcement teams to substantially increase illegal working raids, returns and deportations is an important part of strengthening our border security." Home Office figures show there were 29,867 returns between July 5 last year and May 18 this year. This included 7,893 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. There were 4,436 foreign national offenders (FNOs) kicked out and 8,511 asylum related returns. Earlier this month the Government released a white paper outlinng Labour's plan to drive down net migration. It includes proposals to widen the range of offences that can result in deportation. Ms Cooper said: "As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will strengthen the rules so that more foreign national offenders can be returned.' The latest clip shows dozens of men, some covering their faces, arriving in Albanian capital Tirana. The UK has a returns agreement with the Balkan state, with the number of small boat arrivals from Albania dropping by 95% in three years. In February the Government sparked a backlash after releasing footage of migrants in handcuffs being forced onto deportation flights. Critics branded it "performative", but minister Dame Angela Eagle said it was "important that we show what we are doing". The Home Office said the four biggest removal charter flights in UK history have taken off under the current Government, with 850 people onboard. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'Through close collaboration with partners like Albania, we are stepping up our efforts to return those with no right to be in the UK to their countries of origin." He said international cooperation is "central" to the Government's approach to illegal migration. Earlier this week the landmark agreement with the EU committed the UK and Europe to working together on removals.
Epoch Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Home Office to Publish Nationalities of Foreign Criminals
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has, on Tuesday, ordered the Home Office to release detailed figures on foreign national offenders (FNOs) within the immigration system by the end of the year. Her decision will require a significant overhaul of the department's statistical processes after officials initially advised that compiling and publishing such data would be too complex. For the first time, the Home Office is expected to publish a breakdown of the nationalities of foreign criminals currently awaiting deportation from the UK. Under existing rules, There are currently Government sources anticipate that the data will highlight Albanians, Romanians, and Poles as the most represented nationalities among those awaiting deportation. Related Stories 10/16/2023 3/7/2023 The most common offences are expected to include drug production and supply, various types of theft and robbery and acts of violent assault. 'Any foreign national who abuses our hospitality by committing serious crimes should be in no doubt—they will face the full force of the law and be removed from the UK at the earliest opportunity. 'We are committed to ensuring the public is better informed about the number of foreign criminals awaiting deportation, their countries of origin, and the crimes they have committed. This is why, for the first time, ministers have directed officials to produce a broader range of data on this group and to publish it in a transparent manner,' a Home Office spokesperson said. Rising Numbers Official statistics reveal that the number of FNOs awaiting deportation rose to 19,244 by the end of 2024, up from 17,907 when the Conservative government left office in July, and significantly higher than the 14,640 recorded at the end of 2022. This increase comes despite The Home Office is currently upgrading its Once completed, officials say the new system will allow for more detailed and accurate statistical releases, potentially starting by the end of 2025. Until then, further breakdowns—such as offence types and nationalities—will be published as 'experimental statistics'. Political Pressure The announcement follows sustained pressure from opposition figures to disclose more information on migrant crime. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the news, adding that the British public 'deserve the truth about migrant crime and the costs of low-skilled immigration.' 'The cover-up is coming to an end. We'll finally see the hard reality—that mass migration is fuelling crime across our country,' he said. The Conservative minister has long campaigned for greater transparency on this issue. Last year, he 'Following over a year of pressure from campaigners—including my own attempt to change the law—it appears there's been a breakthrough.' Jenrick Shadow home secretary Chris Philp Home Office officials have cautioned that detailed breakdowns will depend on the successful completion of system upgrades and the resolution of data recording gaps. Quicker Deportation Pledge Foreign inmates make up around 12 percent of the prison population across England and Wales. Last month the government Prisons minister James Timpson said it was unacceptable for taxpayers to fund the detention of foreign criminals. Since elected into government, Labour removed 2,580 foreign criminals, a 23 percent increase on the same period 12 months prior. 'Under this government removals are up by nearly a quarter. We're now taking action to ensure this is done swifter, easing pressure on overcrowded prisons and on the public purse,' said Timpson. PA Media contributed to this report.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Foreign prisoners should be deported
Once more unto the breach, dear friends: foreign criminals will be deported 'as soon as operationally possible' after their conviction. A review led by David Gauke, the former Conservative justice secretary, recommends that the law should be changed to allow ministers to speedily deport 'Foreign National Offenders' (FNOs) serving up to three years, rather than waiting until they have served half of their custodial sentences. This sounds like an improvement on this especially egregious aspect of our broken criminal-justice system. At present, FNOs represent 12 per cent of all inmates in British prisons: a total of 10,800 prisoners, at an annual cost of £580 million. Any measure that brings down these alarming numbers is welcome. However, the review proposes that foreign criminals with longer sentences would still serve a third of their terms before deportation, while the most dangerous FNOs would only be deported after approval from the parole board. A reason for mild scepticism about such proposals is that the human rights lawyers who dominate the legal system are disinclined to follow public opinion. Polls have long indicated that the vast majority of people want FNOs kicked out of the country as soon as possible. Yet successive governments have failed to solve the problem and the numbers keep rising. Admittedly, the Prime Minister has lately undergone something of a Damascene conversion over immigration. It may be that the former DPP is about to reinvent himself as a hardliner on law and order. Miracles will never even if a new, draconian Sir Keir does indeed promise a crackdown on foreign criminals, the devil will be in the detail. The Gauke review suggests that deported FNOs who sneak back into the UK would be 'immediately jailed'. How easy would such a cat-and-mouse game be in practice? Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Foreign prisoners should be deported
Once more unto the breach, dear friends: foreign criminals will be deported 'as soon as operationally possible' after their conviction. A review led by David Gauke, the former Conservative justice secretary, recommends that the law should be changed to allow ministers to speedily deport 'Foreign National Offenders' (FNOs) serving up to three years, rather than waiting until they have served half of their custodial sentences. This sounds like an improvement on this especially egregious aspect of our broken criminal-justice system. At present, FNOs represent 12 per cent of all inmates in British prisons: a total of 10,800 prisoners, at an annual cost of £580 million. Any measure that brings down these alarming numbers is welcome. However, the review proposes that foreign criminals with longer sentences would still serve a third of their terms before deportation, while the most dangerous FNOs would only be deported after approval from the parole board. A reason for mild scepticism about such proposals is that the human rights lawyers who dominate the legal system are disinclined to follow public opinion. Polls have long indicated that the vast majority of people want FNOs kicked out of the country as soon as possible. Yet successive governments have failed to solve the problem and the numbers keep rising. Admittedly, the Prime Minister has lately undergone something of a Damascene conversion over immigration. It may be that the former DPP is about to reinvent himself as a hardliner on law and order. Miracles will never cease. But even if a new, draconian Sir Keir does indeed promise a crackdown on foreign criminals, the devil will be in the detail. The Gauke review suggests that deported FNOs who sneak back into the UK would be 'immediately jailed'. How easy would such a cat-and-mouse game be in practice?
