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Memo sparks foreign criminals row Memo sparks foreign prisoner row
(about 1 hour later)
Immigration officials have "no interest" in deporting foreign prisoners who have served less than 12 months in jail, a memo says. Gordon Brown is under fire over a prison service memo revealing officials have "no interest" in deporting foreign criminals jailed for less than a year.
The admission was made in a memo from Prison Service deputy director general Michael Spurr to prison governors. The UK's head of immigration Lin Homer said staff were committed to sending home all overseas offenders, whether they are dangerous or not.
Immigration chief Lin Homer said it did not change the policy of removing the most dangerous offenders first. But the Tories say the memo, sent to prison governors, is at odds with the PM's pledge to expel foreign criminals.
But the Tories said it was at odds with PM Gordon Brown's pledge of tough action to deport foreign criminals. More than 11,000 of the 81,000 prison population are foreign nationals.
Ministers first promised tougher measures in 2006 after it was revealed 1,013 foreign prisoners were not considered for deportation last year. Prison Service deputy director general Michael Spurr sent the memo at the centre of the row last month.
They included serious offenders such as murderers and rapists, and the crisis led to the sacking of former home secretary Charles Clarke. In it, he wrote that immigration officials at the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) had confirmed to the Prison Service that "as a rule they have no interest" in pursuing for deportation foreign nationals jailed for less than 12 months.
Different picture 'Potentially embarrassing'
In May 2006 the then prime minister Tony Blair said he was prepared to change the law to ensure most foreign prisoners were deported automatically. The document also says those awaiting removal for immigration offences could be moved to open prisons, to create space in other jails.
We have repeatedly said we will target the most dangerous first which is why we are initially targeting those who have served more than 12 months Lin HomerBorder and Immigration Agency chief executive Send us your comments The result will be that foreign thieves, fraudsters, burglars and drugs dealers will be released back into the community Nick HerbertConservatives Send us your comments
Ministers pledged to remove 4,000 foreign prisoners by the end of 2007. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the dismissive language used was potentially embarrassing for the government.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that the memo presented a different picture. But BIA chief executive Lin Homer said the memo did not mean a change in the government's policy of removing the most dangerous offenders first.
While it did not go against official policy, the dismissive language used was potentially embarrassing for the government, he said. She added: "The prime minister was categorical earlier this year that we are committed to the removal of foreign national prisoners who commit serious crimes in this country.
Mr Spurr wrote that immigration officials at the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) had confirmed to the Prison Service that "as a rule they have no interest" in pursuing for deportation foreign nationals jailed for less than 12 months.
The document also says foreign nationals who are awaiting removal for immigration offences could be moved to open prisons, to create space in other jails.
Borders and Immigration Agency chief executive Ms Homer said the document was in line with government policy.
"The prime minister was categorical earlier this year that we are committed to the removal of foreign national prisoners who commit serious crimes in this country.
"Nothing in this document changes that and, in fact, this year we have removed more foreign nationals than ever before."Nothing in this document changes that and, in fact, this year we have removed more foreign nationals than ever before.
"We have repeatedly said we will target the most dangerous first which is why we are initially targeting those who have served more than 12 months." Crimes carrying a maximum 12-month jail term Common assaultDrink drivingAssaulting a police constableStealing a carHarassment
Let me be clear: any newcomer to Britain who is caught selling drugs or using guns will be thrown out Gordon Brown in September "We have repeatedly said we will target the most dangerous first, which is why we are initially targeting those who have served more than 12 months."
The Conservatives say that would increase the risk of foreign prisoners absconding, and ignoring prisoners who serve less than 12 months would mean at least 4,000 criminals would escape deportation. The Conservatives say that would increase the risk of foreign prisoners absconding, and ignoring prisoners who serve less than a year would mean at least 4,000 criminals would escape deportation.
'No excuse'
Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "The result will be that foreign thieves, fraudsters, burglars and drugs dealers will be released back into the community.Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert said: "The result will be that foreign thieves, fraudsters, burglars and drugs dealers will be released back into the community.
"Gordon Brown claimed that he wanted to send a message that foreign criminals would be deported."Gordon Brown claimed that he wanted to send a message that foreign criminals would be deported.
"It takes a special kind of cynicism to promise tough action on foreign criminals while simultaneously instructing that the majority of them are to be released.""It takes a special kind of cynicism to promise tough action on foreign criminals while simultaneously instructing that the majority of them are to be released."
In September, Gordon Brown promised to strengthen measures to deport foreign national criminals. No-one who sells drugs to our children or uses guns has the right to stay in our country Gordon Brown
'Drugs and guns' Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne, said: "There is no excuse for failing to deport foreign criminals at the end of their sentence, particularly when Charles Clarke was sacked as home secretary last year over the failure to process 1,000 foreign convict cases.
"Deportation needs to be speeded up to stop reoffending and ensure that the Prison Service is not inadvertently pushed into releasing more serious domestic convicts."
In September, the prime minister promised to strengthen measures to deport foreign national criminals.
He told Labour's annual conference: "Let me be clear: any newcomer to Britain who is caught selling drugs or using guns will be thrown out.He told Labour's annual conference: "Let me be clear: any newcomer to Britain who is caught selling drugs or using guns will be thrown out.
"No-one who sells drugs to our children or uses guns has the right to stay in our country.""No-one who sells drugs to our children or uses guns has the right to stay in our country."
In October, it was revealed that two prisons, Bullwood Hall in Essex and Canterbury Prison in Kent, had been converted to hold only foreign prisoners.In October, it was revealed that two prisons, Bullwood Hall in Essex and Canterbury Prison in Kent, had been converted to hold only foreign prisoners.
The Ministry of Justice said the jails, which have immigration and language services, were part of a plan to deport as many foreign prisoners as possible.The Ministry of Justice said the jails, which have immigration and language services, were part of a plan to deport as many foreign prisoners as possible.
In total, 2,784 prisoners from abroad were deported or removed between April 2006 and March 2007.In total, 2,784 prisoners from abroad were deported or removed between April 2006 and March 2007.
More than 11,000 of the 81,000 prison population are foreign nationals. Ministers first promised tougher measures in 2006 after it was revealed 1,013 foreign prisoners were not considered for deportation last year.
They included murderers and rapists, and the crisis led to the sacking of home secretary Charles Clarke last year.