30/10/2003

Early deportation could save up to 400 prison places

Prisoners who are citizens of foreign countries are to be deported early, and so save around 400 prison places, under proposals outlined by Prisons and Probation Minister Paul Goggins today.

An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will make foreign national prisoners who are serving determinate sentences of more than three months liable to deportation up to four and a half months early. However, where foreign national prisoners are considered to present a significant risk to their home communities they will not be removed early.

The measure brings the foreign national prisoners in line with UK prisoners who are eligible to apply for Home Detention Curfew (HDC) and the same risk assessment procedures will apply.

Mr Goggins said: "There are many foreign nationals in UK prisons, some of those will be suitable to deport before the end of their sentence. On removal from prison they will be deported immediately to their country of origin.

"The measure ensures that foreign nationals are treated in line with their UK counterparts and will have a positive impact on the prison population as well as making a saving to the UK taxpayer."

Any foreign national prisoner who is deported and attempts to return to the UK will be re-deported or sent back to custody to serve the remainder of their sentence.

The maximum period of early removal will be tapered according to the length of the sentence. All prisoners who pass the risk assessment will be deported direct from custody.

(gmcg)

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