Easing Prison Overcrowding: UK Accelerates Deportation of Foreign Prisoners

The UK government is taking decisive action to alleviate the strain on its prison system by expediting the deportation process for foreign national offenders (FNOs). A recent law change will see these individuals deported significantly earlier in their sentences.

Previously, FNOs serving fixed-term sentences were typically deported at the 50 percent mark. However, this threshold has now been lowered to 30 percent. This accelerated deportation process aims to address the critical overcrowding issue plaguing UK prisons.

The current prison capacity crisis is stark, with only 2,567 available spaces. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood explained the rationale behind the change, stating that keeping foreign criminals who lack the right to remain in the UK incarcerated is an inefficient use of resources.

“With prisons close to bursting, I’m clear we shouldn’t be giving bed and board to foreign criminals with no right to be here,” Mahmood emphasized. The accelerated deportations are projected to save taxpayer money and enhance public safety, forming a key component of the government’s comprehensive “Plan for Change.”

This move represents a significant shift in the government’s approach to managing prison capacity and addressing the issue of foreign national offenders. The impact of this policy change on both prison populations and the broader immigration system will be closely watched in the coming months.