The Justice Secretary has revealed that the number of foreign criminals deported early under the Labour administration has surged by 75%. David Lammy informed MPs that over 2,700 foreign national offenders were removed under the early removal scheme in the past year, a significant increase from the Tory Government’s final year figure of 1,560.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the prisons crisis, stating that the increase in deportations reflects their determination. He highlighted that the number of foreign criminals deported early has risen by 75%, with more than 2,700 individuals removed under the scheme in the last year, compared to 1,560 during the Tories’ tenure.
Describing the progress as a significant step forward, Labour is praised for its efforts in expelling dangerous criminals from the country. The weekly removals under the scheme peaked at 114 in September, averaging 16 per day.
Earlier this year, the government introduced stricter rules to expedite the deportation of foreign criminals, resulting in a 14% increase in the total number of FNOs returned under Labour. Despite previous promises from the Conservatives, the number of FNOs removed annually remained below 2010 levels when they left office in July 2024.
Jake Richards, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice, and International, affirmed the Labour government’s proactive approach to deporting foreign criminals. He highlighted the rise in deportations and the implementation of measures to ensure faster and earlier removals.
The government aims to further rebalance the application of human rights law domestically and internationally to prevent offenders from exploiting legal loopholes. Labour’s commitment to deporting more foreign criminals is underscored as a core objective of their policy agenda.
