UK Puts India on ‘Deport Now, Appeal Later’ List – What It Means for Indians, Must-Know Facts! News24 –
The UK government has broadened its “Deport Now, Appeal Later” policy to include India and 22 other nations. This allows the country to deport foreign offenders right after sentencing, without awaiting their appeal hearings in UK courts.
According to the UK Home Office, the scheme announced scope to nearly triple, from eight countries to 23. The move is part of a broader crackdown on rising migration and delays in the removal of offenders.
How The Scheme Works
Foreign nationals from these countries will be deported immediately after sentencing, with appeals conducted remotely via video from overseas. Under this policy, foreign nationals convicted of crimes in the UK are returned to their home countries right after sentencing. If they wish to contest the decision, they can appeal from abroad using video hearings, eliminating the need to remain in the UK during the appeal process.
The policy will ease the financial strain on British taxpayers by deporting offenders from the listed countries immediately after sentencing, rather than allowing them to remain in the UK during their appeals, as was previously the case.
The government has implemented new regulations permitting most foreign prisoners to be deported after serving only 30 percent of their sentence, down from the previous 50 percent. However, serious offenders, such as terrorists and murderers, must still complete their entire prison terms before being deported.
Foreign nationals account for approximately 12 per cent of the UK’s prison population, with an average annual cost of £54,000 per prisoner. Accelerating the deportation of Indian nationals is anticipated to alleviate this financial burden on UK taxpayers. The UK government has allocated £5 million to place specialist staff in nearly 80 prisons across England and Wales. This investment is designed to expedite the deportation and removal process affecting Indian nationals detained in these facilities.
Countries Impacted
Previously, the list included Finland, Nigeria, Estonia, Albania, Belize, Mauritius, Tanzania and Kosovo. The expanded list now adds India, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Uganda and Zambia.
According to UK government, discussions are ongoing with other nations to join the scheme. “We are leading diplomatic efforts to increase the number of countries where foreign criminals can be swiftly returned, and if they want to appeal, they can do so safely from their home country,” said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
How It Works
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the country’s home secretary Yvette Cooper said, “For far too long, foreign criminals have been exploiting our immigration system, remaining in the UK for months or even years while their appeals drag on. That has to end,” reported news agency PTI.
She added, “Those who commit crimes in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system, which is why we are restoring control and sending a clear message that our laws must be respected and will be enforced.”