Report: 21,294 foreign criminals still in UK
A Daily Express report says 21,294 foreign criminals due for deportation remain in the UK, with numbers rising by 1,000 in three months.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A Daily Express report has revealed that 21,294 foreign criminals who should have been deported are still living in the UK. The figure, which has grown by 1,000 in just three months, has reignited questions about the government's enforcement of deportation orders.
The report also highlights that fewer than 10,000 Channel arrivals have been removed since the crisis began in 2018, a removal rate of just 4.3%. This has led to criticism that the system is failing to deal with individuals who have committed crimes and should not remain in the country.
Discussion of the figures has focused on the pressure on the prison system, with concerns that overcrowding is being exacerbated by the number of foreign offenders who cannot be removed. One factor cited is the refusal of some countries to accept their nationals back, which has been described as a major obstacle to effective deportation.
The report comes amid broader debate over immigration policy, with separate figures showing a reduction in the number of asylum seekers in hotels, though critics argue this is simply a reclassification rather than a genuine fall in the number of people being supported by the state.
Ministers have yet to respond directly to the latest figures, but the report is likely to increase pressure on the government to take a tougher stance on deportation and to find new ways to overcome the barriers to removing foreign criminals.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| Since 2018, only 4.3% of small boat migrants have been returned. | |
| Some countries refuse to take back their nationals, hindering deportations. | |
| The number of foreign criminals in the community grew by 1,000 in three months. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
GB News focused on the scale of the problem, expressing outrage that thousands of foreign criminals remain in the UK. The tone was critical of the government, with presenters using sarcasm and banter to highlight perceived failures. They also linked the story to wider concerns about prison overcrowding and the inability to deport due to countries refusing to take people back.
- “21,294 criminals who should be deported are still on the streets”
- “the number of crooks in the community has grown by 1,000 in just three months”
- “fewer than 10,000 channel arrivals have been removed since the problem began in 2018, which represents 4.3%”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.