Following a Parliamentary Written Question by Crawley’s MP, Henry Smith has congratulated the Government on its ‘tough, decisive action’ in deporting foreign criminals.

Henry commented:

“Following investigations I’ve made into the Government’s effective implementation of deportation procedures at Gatwick, I’m pleased to report that an answer I’ve received from the Immigration Minister, Mark Harper MP, highlights that almost twice as many foreign criminals were deported through Gatwick Airport in just the first three quarters of last year compared against the figures from 2009. 

“With net immigration now cut by a third, I’m pleased that this Government is taking tough, decisive action to forcibly kick out foreign criminals. Last year alone, the Government deported over 4,600 foreign nationals who had been convicted of criminal activities across Great Britain.  Indeed, this year combined efforts from the police and the newly introduced border protection force have seen the deportation of about a dozen of London’s most dangerous gang members as part of an ongoing purge against urban crime.

“The most considerable block to the majority of high profile deportation cases, such as with Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada, has been the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).  Given the Court’s bias towards criminals’ rights over victims’ rights and not least the substantial associated costs, I’m pleased that senior Conservative ministers within Government are supportive of a review into our membership.  I’d support withdrawing from the Court in favour of enshrining into UK law a British Bill of Rights.”

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