In two thirds of these cases, involving some 410 individuals, the criminals successfully fought against the Government’s attempts to deport them in the courts.
In the other 220 cases, the Home Office gave up trying to deport them after learning that they intended to launch a human rights legal challenge.
Foreign criminals are liable to be deported automatically if they have been sentenced to one year or more in prison. However, they are free to lodge an appeal if they believe they should be exempt from deportation.
Many such appeals are brought under human rights laws which offer protection against sending individuals back to their home countries if there is a threat that they would face torture or other mistreatment. A significant proportion however, are brought under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights which gives individuals the right to a “private and family life”.
Most offenders appealing against deportation are also entitled to legal aid because they are unemployed after serving a prison term.
Ian Austin, the Labour MP for Dudley North, said voters would want to be reassured that “dangerous foreign offenders are being deported wherever possible”.
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