Offenders could go free in home countries under ‘deport now, appeal later’ expansion

• The UK government has expanded its "deport now, appeal later" scheme, allowing foreign criminals to be removed from the country before their human rights appeals are heard.
• The scheme now covers 23 countries, with appeals conducted via video link from the offender's country of origin.
• Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the UK cannot guarantee offenders will be imprisoned in their home countries, but said the scheme saves taxpayers £54,000 per prisoner and frees up UK prison space.
• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the expansion aims to stop foreign criminals exploiting the immigration system by delaying their removal.
• While the Labour government has increased foreign offender deportations by 14 per cent, critics argue the scheme is a minor measure compared to overall migration challenges.

IN FULL

Minister can’t guarantee that murderers or rapists will spend any time in prison under ‘deport now, appeal later’ scheme