Cliff Notes
- New government plans will allow foreign criminals in England and Wales to be deported after 30% of their sentence, down from the current 50%.
- This change aims to address prison overcrowding and could free up approximately 500 cells annually, with the average cost of a prison place at £54,000 per year.
- The Ministry of Justice has stated that these measures may save taxpayers millions, and the proposals will be presented in Parliament for approval, targeting implementation by September.
Foreign prisoners to be deported earlier under new plans | Politics News
Foreign criminals in prisons across England and Wales will be deported at an earlier point in their sentence under new government plans.
The proposed legislation, to be presented in Parliament today, comes as part of efforts to tackle prison overcrowding.
Currently, foreign inmates with no right to stay in the UK are sent back to their home country after serving half of their sentence.
But under the plans, they will instead be removed after just 30% of their term.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) estimates that, combined with other upcoming reforms, some foreign prisoners would end up serving only 10% of their sentence in England and Wales, down from about 20 to 25% currently.
The law is also being tweaked so they can be deported 48 months before the end of their custodial sentence, rather than 18 months before.
The changes will free up an estimated 500 cells per year, with around 12% of the prison population currently made up of foreign offenders, according to the government.
Sources
Foreign prisoners to be deported earlier under new plan – Sky News
Foreign criminals to be deported earlier under new proposal – LBC