To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Zimbabwe nationals are detained in detention centres awaiting deportation back to Zimbabwe; how many of these people have been convicted of a crime in the UK; and how many of those have completed their sentences. (246244)

The UK Border Agency detains only those Zimbabwean nationals who have committed crimes within the United Kingdom and are subject to deportation action and have been assessed as unsuitable for release due to being either a threat to the public and/or are likely to abscond. There are currently around 35 Zimbabwean criminals who have been detained beyond their sentence.

All foreign criminals detained pending deportation action have their detention regularly reviewed and have the opportunity to apply for release on bail to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.