Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has called on the Government to “detain and deport” foreign criminals. Speaking in a debate on criminal activity from residents of migrant hotels, the MP for Ashfield lambasted proposals to electronically tag foreign criminals who cannot be deported.
Under the plans by the Home Office, criminals unable to be sent back to their country of origin could be placed under a night-time curfew. Anderson accused the Government of allowing “thousands of unvetted males to enter this country,” as he issued a simple demand. He said: “It’s time to forget the silly legislation that the Labour MPs opposite are bleating on about.
“It is time to detain these people and deport them and we don’t want to see any of these silly tags put on their record, just detain and deport them straight away.”
The proposals address the inability of the Home Office to deport some migrants convicted of crimes in the UK due to human rights laws.
Examples have included a convicted paedophile who could not be deported because he’s not ‘safe’ in home country and a drug-addicted migrant with 42 convictions who would “struggle mentally” if removed to Uganda.
According to Home Office figures, 18,069 foreign offenders living in the UK were awaiting deportation in September.
Dame Diana Johnson, the Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention says that the government has removed around 5,179 offenders since winning the general election last year, a 14% increase on the year before.
The Government says that the bill is intended to improve the UK’s border security against a backdrop of asylum seekers continuing to make unauthorised journeys across the English Channel in small boats.”
They added: “Proposed measures include making the existing post of Border Security Commander a statutory role and new powers for law enforcement agencies.”
Dame Diana Johnson added: “Let there be absolutely no doubt: foreign nationals, including asylum seekers, who abuse our hospitality by breaking our laws should expect to be removed from this country.
“That is important progress, but we want to go further.
“Through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are changing the law to ensure that individuals convicted of any registered sexual offence are not granted asylum, and we are legislating to allow for the tagging of any migrant considered to pose a threat to public safety or national security, as well as strengthening our crackdown on illegal working.”