Here Is What Is Happening to Foreign Criminals Still Living in the UK That Has Left Many Britons Worried
A new survey has revealed that half of British voters believe the Labour Government is deliberately keeping information about crimes committed by foreign nationals from the public.
The findings come after the Home Office revealed that 21,294 convicted foreign criminals who are facing deportation are still living in communities across Britain.
The survey was carried out by Find Out Now on behalf of the Centre for Migration Control. It found that 50 per cent of those questioned believe Labour is deliberately hiding information about crimes committed by foreign-born offenders.
The findings have increased pressure on Andy Burnham and the Labour Government, with questions being raised about why certain crime figures have not been made public.
The controversy comes as the Ministry of Justice is trying to overturn a decision by the Information Commissioner that would allow the release of information about crimes committed by foreign nationals in England and Wales between 2018 and 2024.
The Centre for Migration Control has been pushing for this information to be released, arguing that the British public deserves to know more about crimes committed by foreign offenders.
However, officials have defended their decision not to release the figures. They argue that collecting and providing the information would cost too much money. They have also raised concerns that publishing some of the details could make it possible to identify certain individuals, which could affect their privacy rights.
The debate has also brought attention to the number of foreign nationals currently serving prison sentences in England and Wales.
According to the report, Albanian nationals make up the largest group of foreign-born prisoners in England and Wales. Prisoners from Poland, Romania and Lithuania also account for significant numbers.
These figures have raised further concerns among critics about Britain’s ability to deport foreign criminals, especially as discussions continue over the country’s future relationship with the European Union.
Some campaigners fear that closer cooperation between Britain and the EU could make it harder for the Government to remove European nationals who have been convicted of crimes.
They are particularly worried that any future agreement involving changes to the rights of EU citizens could create additional legal difficulties when attempting to deport offenders.
The issue is likely to put more pressure on the Labour Government as campaigners continue demanding greater transparency over foreign national crime figures.
Although the survey shows that many voters believe information is being deliberately withheld, this does not prove that the Government is covering up crimes. The Ministry of Justice maintains that its objections to releasing the information are linked to costs and privacy concerns.
For now, the disagreement over the figures remains unresolved, with the Government facing continued questions about why the information has not been released and whether the public should have greater access to details about crimes committed by foreign nationals in Britain.
