Deport Now, Appeal Later: UK Expands Scheme to 23 Countries
The UK government has expanded its controversial “Deport Now, Appeal Later” policy to include 15 more countries—raising the total to 23. Under this scheme, foreign nationals convicted of crimes in the UK are deported before their appeals are heard, with appeals conducted via video link from their home countries.
Read more in The Guardian or Financial Times coverage.
What’s Changed?
Newly included countries are: India, Canada, Australia, Angola, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Uganda, Zambia.
Guardian report
Why the Expansion?
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the change aims to prevent offenders from remaining in the UK “for months or even years” while appeals are pending.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood added the reform could save up to £54,000 per prison place annually by reducing overcrowding.
Sources: The Guardian, LBC.
Scope & Impact
- Scheme expanded from 8 to 23 countries.
Guardian - Since July 2024, around 5,179 foreign nationals deported—a 14% increase.
Guardian - Foreign offenders make up ~12% of UK prison population; new laws will allow deportations after just 30% of sentence instead of 50%.
FT, Sky News - Prison overcrowding measures also include a £5 million “immigration crack squad” to process deportations up to 18 months earlier.
GOV.UK
Debate & Controversy
Critics argue the policy undermines justice, potentially allowing serious offenders to escape serving time in the UK.
Guardian
Legal Background & Next Steps
The scheme, revived in 2023, was first introduced in 2014 but halted after a Supreme Court ruling requiring effective appeal mechanisms. Now, it’s reinstated only for countries with proper video-link facilities.
Full enforcement awaits parliamentary approval.
FT, Guardian
