Mr Bacon was following up on questions he had asked as part of an enquiry by the Commons public accounts committee, of which he is a member. The Home Office statement showed that 1,023 criminals who are foreign nationals have been let out prison since February 1999 without being deported. This group included 3 murderers, 9 rapists, and 39 people convicted of indecent assault or other sexual offences including 5 sexual offences involving minors. Others included 62 drug dealers, 41 burglars, 4 arsonists, 4 guilty of kidnapping and 93 who were sent to prison for robbery.

Mr Bacon said: “It is beyond belief that the Home Office simply allowed foreign prisoners who were guilty of the most serious crimes to leave jail without even asking if they should now be deported”.  

“Foreign nationals who come here are guests in this country. If they abuse our hospitality by committing serious crimes there should be a presumption that they will face deportation when they leave prison, instead of which the Home Office just let them walk out.  The Home Office has been guilty of a complete dereliction of duty”.

		How Richard uncovered the foreign prisoners scandal

		Hear Richard discuss this issue on Radio 4's 'Today' programme

26 April 2006

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See also:
PARLIAMENT: Home Office's 'casual disregard' for tax payers
PAC REPORT: Returning Failed Asylum Applicants

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