10 May 2012

Prisoner Repatriation Consultation Launched

Justice Minister David Ford has today published for consultation proposals on the repatriation of foreign national prisoners before the end of their sentence.

The consultation to introduce an early removal scheme for certain categories of foreign national prisoners in Northern Ireland will run until 21 June 2012.

Mr Ford said: "Northern Ireland has been out of step with other jurisdictions on how it returns foreign national prisoners to their country of origin at the end of their sentence.

"This change would modernise the current arrangement and at the same time, free up space and reduce costs for the Prison Service."

If adopted, the new powers would result in prisoners, who the court has ordered their deportation to their country of origin on completion of their sentence, or who have breached the conditions of their leave to enter or remain in the UK, be repatriated before the end of their custodial sentence.

It will apply to certain categories of foreign national prisoners who must serve at least three months of their sentence in Northern Ireland before being considered for removal. Life sentence prisoners and those on extended or indeterminate sentences will not qualify for the scheme.

(CD)