Burnley MP calls for more foreign criminals to be deported

Burnley Tory backbencher Antony Higginbotham intervened in a House of Commons debate this week on the issue, which has been labelled "brutal and inhumane" by human rights groups.

Home Office Minister Tom Pursglove made a statement revealing a flight to Jamaica this week intended to carry 112 foreign criminals left with just seven on board after legal and political challenges.

The minster said the 112 had committed 127 offences including including rape of a minor, sexual assault against children, firearms offences, dealing and importing controlled drugs, and other violent crimes such as actual bodily harm.

Human rights campaigners had been trying to halt the flight amid concerns over the legality of the government’s attempt to remove Jamaica nationals from the UK.

It followed claims the majority of people due on the flight came to the UK at a very young age and some may have a right to British citizenship.

Mr Higginbotham told him: “My constituents want to see more deportations of these foreign criminals - more flights.

"So can I urge you to lay on more flights and publicise them, so people know we are on the side of the law abiding majority and the victims of these awful crimes.”

Mr Pursglove replied: "I think that it’s absolutely right and proper that the British Government lives up to its legal obligations around the deportation of foreign national offenders from our country who have committed serious acts of crime that have blighted our communities and that blight communities such as his in Burnley.”

Karen Doyle, from campaign group Movement for Justice, told a national newspaper: “These flights are brutal and inhumane.

"Mass deportation charter flights are a cynical racist ploy by a failing government. Red meat and racism over human rights and compassion.”

A large number of those facing deportation are disabled or live with health problems, it has been reported, with many also going years without reoffending.