# Fewer than one in 20 foreign criminals from some countries are being deported > Over 20,000 foreign criminals remain in UK despite deportation orders. - Title: Fewer than one in 20 foreign criminals from some countries… - Summary: Over 20,000 foreign criminals remain in UK despite deportation orders. Fewer than five per cent of foreign criminals from Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Sri… - Keywords: foreign criminals, deportation, home office, labour, conservatives, jamaica, nigeria, algeria, morocco, sri lanka, sentencing act, Dailymail - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16277609/Fewer-one-20-foreign-criminals-countries-deported-20-000-offenders-living-freely-UK.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-11-09T12:55:45+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: uk, foreign criminals, deportation, home office, labour, conservatives, jamaica, nigeria, algeria, morocco, sri lanka, sentencing act ## Deportation rates for foreign criminals Fewer than five per cent of foreign criminals from Nigeria and Algeria were deported in June 2025. ## Lower deportation rates for other countries The proportion was even lower for offenders from Morocco and Sri Lanka, with just 3.1 per cent for Jamaicans. ## Labour's deportation figures Labour returned 35,000 people during its first year in office, but only 30 per cent were foreign criminals. ## Awaiting deportation 773 offenders were awaiting deportation to Nigeria in June 2025, a 4.8 per cent deportation rate from the previous year. ## Jamaica deportation rates 775 offenders from Jamaica were living in the community with just 24 removed in the previous year, a rate of 3.1 per cent. ## Bangladeshi deportation rates Bangladeshi criminals faced a return rate of roughly 6 per cent. ## Shadow home secretary's comments Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'Only a tiny fraction of criminals from countries like Jamaica, Nigeria, Somalia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe or even India get returned.' > Only a tiny fraction of criminals from countries like Jamaica, Nigeria, Somalia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe or even India get returned. ## Conservative deportation stance Conservatives would 'not be squeamish about deporting to countries of origin which Labour do not deport to'. ## Conservative deportation plan Only the Conservatives have a detailed plan to deport all foreign criminals by leaving the ECHR and banning asylum and modern slavery claims by foreign criminals. ## Home Office data The latest Home Office data shows a total of 21,294 offenders were still living in the UK despite facing deportation in June 2026. ## Decade increase This figure has more than tripled over the past decade, from 5,928 in June 2016. ## Labour's Sentencing Act impact The increase was blamed on the impact of Labour's Sentencing Act, which has seen thousands of criminals released early as part of efforts to combat prison overcrowding. ## Awaiting deportation at election The number of foreign criminals awaiting deportation stood at 17,677 at the time of the General Election in 2024. ## Reoffending cases Foreign criminals have gone on to reoffend while subject to deportation orders. ## Radiet Meles case Radiet Meles, a former soldier from Eritrea, was expected to be deported after completing his sentence for a horrific sexual assault in 2019. ## Gift Oladele case Gift Oladele, from Nigeria, was jailed for 17 years earlier this year for raping and sexually assaulting a young woman in Wrexham. ## Home Office response The Home Office said: 'Returns are at their highest level in nearly a decade. Nearly 12,000 foreign criminals, including murderers and rapists, have been returned or deported in the two years since the last election… > Returns are at their highest level in nearly a decade. Nearly 12,000 foreign criminals, including murderers and rapists, have been returned or deported in the two years since the last election, representing a 41 per cent increase on the two years prior. ## Key takeaway Fewer than five per cent of foreign criminals from Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Jamaica are deported, with 20,000 offenders living freely in UK.