Foreign Criminals to Be Deported Sooner Under New Government Legislation

The UK government has announced a major overhaul of deportation rules for foreign national offenders (FNOs), enabling faster removals in a move aimed at easing prison overcrowding, saving taxpayer money, and enhancing public safety.

Under legislation proposed on 25 June, foreign offenders serving prison sentences in the UK will now be eligible for deportation much earlier in their sentence. The changes are set to come into force this September, subject to Parliamentary approval.

The reforms will see the threshold for deportation eligibility under the Early Removal Scheme reduced from 50% of a sentence to just 30%. Combined with new sentencing reforms, this could mean some foreign offenders will be removed after serving as little as 10% of their custodial term. Those deported will be permanently banned from re-entering the UK. Any attempt to return will result in the immediate reactivation of their original prison sentence.

According to the Ministry of Justice, foreign nationals currently account for around 12% of the prison population. The government estimates the policy could free up approximately 500 prison places annually, each costing the taxpayer an average of £54,000 per year.

Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said the changes are part of a broader “Plan for Change” to restore control over the UK’s borders and prison system.

“With prisons close to bursting, I’m clear we shouldn’t be giving bed and board to foreign criminals with no right to be here,” she said. “These changes will get more of them on planes out of the country much sooner, saving taxpayers’ money and keeping our streets safe.”

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Commissioner Donna Jones welcomed the reforms, noting that she has been actively advocating for changes to FNO policy for the past two years.

“Last year I spoke to the then Shadow Lord Chancellor about deporting foreign national offenders to free up space in prisoners but also to save the UK money. I’m pleased to see the new proposed change to the law.”

In the past year alone, 4,436 foreign criminals were deported, representing a 14% increase in removals. The government has also invested £5 million to deploy specialist staff in nearly 80 prisons to accelerate deportation proceedings.

The new rules will not apply to prisoners convicted of terrorism or terror-related offences. Additionally, deportation under the scheme will remain a discretionary power, meaning it can be denied in certain cases — for example, if a prisoner is suspected of planning further criminal activity.

These changes form part of a larger strategy to address the growing pressures on the UK’s prison estate, including plans to create 14,000 additional prison places by 2031 and toughen sentencing requirements for domestic offenders.

The government says the message is clear: foreign nationals who break the law in the UK will be sent packing in record time.