Published: 3 March 2025
By: Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service, Home Office, and Lord Timpson OBE
The UK government has announced a £5 million investment to speed up the deportation of foreign national offenders (FNOs) from prisons across England and Wales. The move aims to ease overcrowding, reduce taxpayer costs, and enhance public safety as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
Under the initiative, 82 specialist staff will be deployed across 80 prisons to accelerate the removal process for inmates who have no legal right to remain in the UK. This “immigration crack squad” will work closely with the Home Office to identify and process deportation cases more efficiently.
Currently, FNOs account for approximately 12% of the prison population, adding to the strain on the justice system. By expediting removals through schemes such as the Early Removal Scheme—which allows deportation up to 18 months before the end of a sentence—the government hopes to free up much-needed prison capacity.
Since July 2024, 2,580 foreign criminals have been removed—a 23% increase compared to the previous year. The newly appointed specialists will be fully operational by 1 April 2025, ensuring faster deportations and a more efficient prison system.
A government spokesperson stated:
“This is part of our Plan for Change—fixing the broken prison system we inherited and keeping our streets safe.”
The investment reflects the government’s commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration and ensuring that criminals with no right to remain in the UK are swiftly removed.
Source: LIIE IMMIGRATION
