Foreign criminals living in Britain are to be deported immediately after sentencing under new plans revealed by Labour.
The proposal, which is one of the most hardline actions taken so far by Sir Keir Starmer‘s government, was unveiled by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
It comes as Labour struggles to get a grip on the number of migrant crooks – including rapists, paedophiles and murderers – swarming into Britain illegally.
Violent protests have erupted outside asylum seeker hotels across the UK as fury builds over the number of foreign residents allegedly carrying out crimes while living in them.
The new scheme, which is being rapidly rolled out by an increasingly-under pressure Downing Street, could reportedly save taxpayers almost £600million.
Meanwhile, the government is continuing to shell out billions on putting up illegal migrants in hotels nationwide.
The ramped up measures come weeks after Ms Mahmood declared foreign prisoners caged behind bars would be deported after serving just a fraction of their sentence.
Announcing the proposal today, Ms Mahmood told The Sun on Sunday: ‘My message to foreign criminals is clear: “Break Britain’s laws and you’ll be sent packing in record time.”.
‘These new powers mean removal and bans from our shores – keeping victims and the public safe.
‘This will ramp up removals of foreign offenders jamming up our jails, with deportations already up 14 per cent on the same time last year.’
It’s believed around one in eight prisoners in England and Wales are foreign-born, costing taxpayers about £580million a year.
Under the new measures rapists, drug dealers and burglars – who receive custodial sentences – will be deported straight away to their home countries.
Those kicked out of Britain will then be banned from life from ever coming back.
However, the most violent criminals – including murderers, foreign-born terrorists and others serving life behind bars – will still need to finish their sentences before being ejected.
As of June 30, 2025, there were 10,772 foreign nationals in custody, data from the Ministry of Justice showed. This included 1,731 in jail for sexual offences.
The number of overseas criminals now behind bars in England and Wales is higher now than at any point since 2013.
The Conservatives say the number of foreign sex offenders in prison has increased by 9.9 per cent in Labour’s first year in office.
Meanwhile, the number of foreign crooks behind bars for violence has skyrocketed by 8.8 per cent in Labour’s first year in office – with 3,250 now locked up.
Critics of Labour’s newest plan say it could fail if jailed crooks try to use human rights laws to dodge deportation.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Mail: ‘In Starmer’s topsy turvy world investors are fleeing the country in their droves while record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are put up in our prisons. It’s a farce.
‘Yet again Starmer has refused to confront our broken human rights laws. He needs to grow a backbone and change them so we can actually deport these individuals. The safety of the British public is infinitely more important than the “rights” of sick foreign criminals.
‘If countries won’t take back their nationals, Starmer should suspend visas and foreign aid. His soft-touch approach isn’t working.’
News of the latest measures comes just weeks after Ms Mahmood unveiled new legislation, due to come into force next month, which will see foreign inmates facing deportation after serving 30 per cent of their term behind bars rather than the current 50 per cent.
The latest change is expected to come into force in 2026.
Prisoners eligible for the so-called ‘early removal scheme’ will also see other discounts under Labour’s other sentencing reforms, as reported by the Mail last month, meaning they could be eligible for deportation after serving just 10 per cent of the sentence handed down by a court.
Offenders who are deported will also permanently barred from re-entering Britain.
Speaking in June of the plan, Ms Mahmood said: ‘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.
‘These changes will get more of them on planes out of the country much sooner, saving taxpayers’ money and keeping our streets safe as part of our Plan for Change.’
The existing early removal scheme came into operation in 2004.
It only applies to those serving a ‘determinate sentence’ – in other words, a specific period of time. Inmates sentenced to life are ineligible.
The measures come amid increasing levels of outrage after a number of illegal migrants staying in asylum hotels were accused of crimes.
In Epping, Essex, violent protests erupted outside one such venue – The Bell Hotel – last month after one residents was accused of sexually assaulting young girls.
Ethiopian Hadush Kebatu, 38, is alleged to have put his hand on a 14-year-old schoolgirl’s leg, asked her for a kiss and suggested they make ‘Jamaican babies’ in Epping over two days, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court was told.
Kebatu, who had arrived in the UK by small boat eight days prior, denied three charges of sexual assault against two girls aged 14 and 16, inciting a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence.
His arrest on Tuesday, July 8, prompted a huge anti-migrant demonstration in Epping – and a counter ‘Refugees Welcome’ rally which led to clashes between rival demonstrators.
The court heard how on July 7 the schoolgirl was allegedly sitting at a bench in Epping High Street with friends eating pizza when Kebatu approached.
Prosecutor Sharon Hall said: ‘Mr Kebatu approached [the schoolgirl] while she was eating pizza. There was some suggestion that the children gave Mr Kebatu some pizza when he asked for it.
‘He then made comments to [the schoolgirl] and another girl, saying “Who wants to have a kiss and make love and have Jamaican babies?”.’
The judge asked defence barrister Miss Tia Ojo if she accepted those comments.
She answered: ‘Those comments are denied.’
Mrs Hall then told the court that Kebatu approached the same schoolgirl the next day and touched her thigh and touched the leg of a 16-year-old girl the following day.
She said: ‘On 8th July [Kebatu] approached [the schoolgirl] and he tried to kiss her and brush the hair from her face.
‘She moved away at which point the defendant followed her and put his hand on her thigh and then it appears that he was confronted.
‘[Earlier] the defendant tried to kiss [the 16-year-old girl]. He put his hand on her leg and told her she was pretty.’
Miss Ojo, for the defence, told the court: ‘All those allegations he denies.’
District Judge Williams told the court he was refusing bail and set the date for a two-day trial on August 26 and 27.
