Reform Criminal Immigrants Incarceration Policy

Reform has just announced its foreign nationals’ policy to free up prison space. It will also deport immigrants who are criminals in jail.

With our prisons full to bursting, the UK is going to free criminals whose sentences have not been completed. Early release could be stopped.

We have many illegal and foreign criminals in our prison system who will be released but not deported. But what would happen if we did as Reform wants and deported all foreign criminals from our prison system?

10,000 spaces would be made, and it would also be financially viable if we sent these people to offshore prisons.

Reform has been in conversation with El Salvador and Kosovo about sending these foreign prisoners to them.

As we said, it will make thousands of spaces and stop early release, financial and ethics halve the cost of keeping a prisoner.

In the UK, it costs £54,000 – £60,000 per year to keep a prisoner for a year. The costings could go down to £27,000 – £30,000 per year, saving approx half a billion pounds.

Then another problem is that these countries have real prisons. There are many people who say human rights are being broken, especially in El Salvador.

Cecot is an El Salvador prison. It’s tough we mean really tough with no chance of escape.

Opened in 2023, Cecot houses 40,000 prisoners in eight reinforced cell blocks with 24-hour lighting and no visitation or mail privileges.

In theory, the idea would solve a few things. It would solve financial problems and open up our prisons so victims can get their peace of mind.

Even if it’s not done by Reform, it should be considered by all parties.