The UK Border Agency is committed to ensuring that we remove those foreign nationals who pose a risk of harm to our society. We are targeting the most harmful first and any non-EEA national who receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more is now subject to automatic deportation proceedings. In addition any non-EEA national who goes to prison for serious drug and gun offences no matter how long their sentence, will face deportation action as well as those, no matter the type of crime, who have received several custodial sentences totalling 12 months or more. EEA nationals convicted of gun or drugs offences will face deportation action if they are sentenced to 12 months or more in prison.
In her letter to the Home Affairs Committee in July 2009 the chief executive stated that of the 5,400 foreign criminals removed or deported in 2008, 1,600 were drug offenders; more than 550 were convicted of the production or supply of drugs, over 350 convicted of possession with intent to supply drugs and over 600 were convicted of the importation of drugs. In a letter of October 2009 she further advised that of the 2,560 foreign criminals removed in quarters 1 to 2 of 2009, 680 drug offenders removed; 316 were convicted of the production or supply of drugs, over 140 convicted of possession with intent to supply drugs, and over 200 were convicted of the importation of drugs. The UK Border Agency does not routinely record the number of foreign nationals removed following a conviction for ‘illegal gun possession’. Figures for 1998 to 2007 are not available.
The chief executive is due to write to the Committee again in February. Copies of the letter will be available in the Library of the House.