Foreign offenders spanning almost two dozen nations will soon find it difficult to postpone their deportation by challenging the decision, thanks to a new ‘deport now, appeal later’ policy.
This upcoming change, expected to be announced by government officials, will mean that individuals from countries like Uganda, India, and Kenya cannot stay in the UK while disputing their deportation.
Any appeal hearings will now take place remotely, following diplomatic deals agreed with 23 countries, it has been said.
Ministers have argued that the new policy will ensure foreign criminals no longer ‘game the system’ to delay their deportation.
This move comes on the heels of the Ministry of Justice’s recent proposal allowing for the immediate deportation of foreign offenders once imprisoned, bypassing the previous requirement of serving half their sentence first.
However, the hardest and most severe criminals, such as those convicted of murder, terrorism, or serving life terms, will not be subject to this stringent policy.
On August 10, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood publicized the proposal, stating to the Sun on Sunday: “My message to foreign criminals is crystal clear: ‘Violate Britain’s laws and you’ll be swiftly expelled.'”
‘These new powers mean removal and bans from our shores – keeping victims and the public safe.
The impending changes will prevent individuals from nations like Uganda, India, and Kenya from staying in the UK while they contest the deportation decision. Shown here: HMP Wandsworth.
Any appeal hearings will now take place remotely, following diplomatic deals agreed with 23 countries, it has been said. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Times that the decision marked an end to individuals ‘manipulating the system’ in month or even year-long appeals
It follows the Ministry of Justice’s recent proposal that foreign criminals can now be deported as soon as they are sent to prison, rather than serving half of their sentence. Pictured: Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood
‘This will ramp up removals of foreign offenders jamming up our jails, with deportations already up 14 per cent on the same time last year.’
It comes as Labour struggles to get a grip on the number of migrant crooks – including rapists, paedophiles and murderers – swarming into Britain illegally.
Violent protests have erupted outside asylum seeker hotels across the UK as fury builds over the number of foreign residents allegedly carrying out crimes while living in them.
The new scheme could reportedly save taxpayers almost £600million and see an expected 3,000 foreign offenders deported earlier, according to a government source.
However, Alex Chalk KC, former justice secretary, told the Times he had ’real misgivings’ about the decision, arguing that the policy would result in prisoners being ‘released with no punishment’ and placed under a ‘tax-payer funded flight home’.
He also questioned why other criminals convicted for severe crimes, such as rapists and domestic abusers, were being considered for deportation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the decision marked an end to individuals ‘manipulating the system’ in month or even year-long appeals.
Meanwhile, David Lammy, foreign secretary, added that the government were ‘leading diplomatic efforts to increase the number of countries where foreign criminals can be swiftly returned’.
Violent protests have erupted outside asylum seeker hotels across the UK as fury builds over the number of foreign residents allegedly carrying out crimes while living in them.(pictured are protesters in Epping, Essex in July)
Anger continues to build across Britain over the number of illegal migrants allegedly carrying out crimes after arriving in the UK (pictured are police in Epping, Essex, during a protest after an asylum seeker living in a migrant hotel allegedly sexually assaulted two teenage girls)
He added that those wishing to appeal would be able to do so from their home country in a bid to increase the UK’s safety and security.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick previously criticised the government’s plans, arguing that it could fail if jailed crooks try to use human rights laws to dodge deportation.
Mr Jenrick told the Mail: ‘In Starmer’s topsy turvy world investors are fleeing the country in their droves while record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are put up in our prisons. It’s a farce.
‘Yet again Starmer has refused to confront our broken human rights laws. He needs to grow a backbone and change them so we can actually deport these individuals. The safety of the British public is infinitely more important than the “rights” of sick foreign criminals.
Pictured: a prisoner celebrates after being released from HMP Wandsworth in September 2024 under the government’s early release scheme
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick previously told the Mail: ‘In Starmer’s topsy turvy world investors are fleeing the country in their droves while record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are put up in our prisons. It’s a farce’
‘If countries won’t take back their nationals, Starmer should suspend visas and foreign aid. His soft-touch approach isn’t working.’
As of June 30, 2025, there were 10,772 foreign nationals in custody, data from the Ministry of Justice showed. This included 1,731 in jail for sexual offences.
The number of overseas criminals now behind bars in England and Wales is higher now than at any point since 2013.
The Conservatives say the number of foreign sex offenders in prison has increased by 9.9 per cent in Labour’s first year in office.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign crooks behind bars for violence has skyrocketed by 8.8 per cent in Labour’s first year in office – with 3,250 now locked up.
