Foreign criminals will be deported immediately after sentencing for the first time, as part of the Government’s “Plan for Change” to strengthen border security and keep streets safe.
Key changes announced on 10 August 2025:
- New powers will allow foreign national offenders (FNOs) to be removed from the UK straight from prison.
- This follows June legislation enabling most foreign prisoners to be deported after serving 30% of their sentence—down from 50%.
- Offenders deported under this measure will be permanently barred from returning to the UK.
- Terrorists, murderers, and those serving life sentences will still complete their prison terms before deportation is considered.
The move aims to save taxpayer money, free up prison places, and protect the public. Around 12% of the prison population are foreign nationals, with each place costing an average of £54,000 per year.
Since July 2024, nearly 5,200 FNOs have been removed—14% more than the previous year—supported by a £5 million investment in specialist staff deployed to 80 prisons to speed up removals.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said:
“This Government is taking radical action to deport foreign criminals, as part of our Plan for Change. Deportations are up under this Government, and with this new law they will happen earlier than ever before.
Our message is clear: if you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing”.
The measures will apply to both current and future prisoners serving fixed-term sentences, with discretion retained to block removal in cases involving threats to UK national security.
This initiative is part of wider reforms, including:
- Building 14,000 extra prison places.
- Reforming sentencing and strengthening victim support.
- Returning 35,000 people with no right to remain since the election, including over 5,000 FNOs.
-A forthcoming Immigration White Paper to curb reliance on overseas labour, tighten human rights provisions, and simplify the removal of foreign criminals.
The immediate deportation powers will require primary legislation, to be introduced to Parliament soon. Photo by Steve Cadman, Wikimedia commons.