The number of foreign criminals released from prison and living in Britain has reached a record high under the current Labour government, according to official figures. As of March, there were 19,779 foreign national offenders who had been released from jail but not yet deported.

This represents an increase of nearly 1,200 individuals in the past year and a rise of approximately 2,200 since Labour took power in July 2024, when the total stood at 17,597. The data indicates that, on average, three foreign criminals per day were released into the community over the 12 months leading up to March.

This figure marks a significant surge compared to 2012, when the number of foreign offenders living freely in Britain was less than 4,000, indicating a more than 400 per cent increase over that period. Typically, foreign criminals are expected to be transferred to immigration detention at the end of their sentences, awaiting deportation. However, detention is only permitted if there is a 'realistic prospect of imminent removal.'

Sources within the Home Office suggest that many foreign nationals delay or prevent their deportation by lodging asylum claims or allegations of trafficking, which are often considered spurious.

Early Release Schemes and Deportations

Official figures released in May showed that 5,858 foreign criminals were deported from Britain in the year to March, a 13 percent increase. Despite this rise in deportations, the overall number of foreign offenders remaining in the community continues to grow. The reasons for this discrepancy are not fully clear, but it may be linked to the increase in prisoners being released early under Labour's 'get out of jail early scheme.'

Under this scheme, the Ministry of Justice has released over 60,000 criminals from jail early, after they have served just 40 percent of their court-imposed sentences. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced this early release program in the autumn of 2024, when she served as Justice Secretary, with the stated aim of alleviating overcrowding in prisons.

Other Government Proposals

The government has also announced plans to review the age of criminal responsibility, with Justice Secretary David Lammy stating that consideration will be given to increasing the minimum age for prosecution in England and Wales. This could potentially mean that older children, possibly up to the age of 12 or 14, would not be charged with crimes under current laws.

Mr. Lammy indicated that the review would examine whether existing legislation reflects a modern understanding of childhood, vulnerability, and development. A report from the Bar Council has recommended raising the minimum age to 14. However, any such change has drawn criticism, with concerns that it could be perceived as allowing young offenders to commit crimes without fear of prosecution. Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, whose murder in 1993 involved two ten-year-old boys, has branded such a move 'dangerous'.

Political Reaction

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated that all foreign criminals should be deported, citing their potential to commit further offenses, including murder and rape. He criticized the government's approach, suggesting that foreign criminals exploit asylum, modern slavery, and human rights claims to remain in the UK. Philp highlighted countries like Jamaica and Pakistan, from which few criminals are deported, and called for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights and legislate to prevent asylum and modern slavery claims from impeding the deportation of criminals and illegal immigrants. He asserted that the Labour government is 'too weak' to enact such measures.

Recent Home Office data indicated that total deportations of all types, including criminals, reached 67,000 since the government took office, an increase of 41 percent.