Reform UK pledges to deport foreign criminals from UK prisons

Nigel Farage has pledged that Reform UK would deport all foreign criminals from British prisons if the party wins the next general election. Under his plan, offenders would be sent to their country of origin or to third-party countries, with Kosovo and El Salvador named as possible destinations. The announcement comes as pressure grows on the government over prison overcrowding and rising costs.

The pledge is part of Farage’s broader push to toughen immigration and crime policies, framing foreign criminals as a drain on public resources. The UK currently holds thousands of foreign nationals in prisons, many serving sentences for serious offenses. The cost of housing them is estimated at hundreds of millions of pounds annually, a figure Farage has highlighted in past campaigns. His proposal echoes similar policies in the U.S. and Australia, where deportation of foreign criminals is common.

Home Office data shows around 10,000 foreign nationals are in UK prisons, with the majority from the EU, Albania, and Pakistan. In 2022, only 600 were deported after serving their sentences, due to legal challenges and diplomatic hurdles. Farage argues that speeding up removals would free up prison space and reduce costs, but critics warn that rushed deportations could violate human rights or international law. Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about the safety of sending criminals to countries with poor human rights records.

If Reform UK gains power, Farage’s plan would require fast-tracking deportation agreements with multiple countries. Legal experts say this could face immediate legal challenges, while prison officials warn of logistical chaos. The policy also risks straining relations with the EU, which has criticized similar UK deportation plans in the past. For now, the pledge signals a sharp shift in Britain’s approach to crime and immigration—one that could redefine the country’s justice system if Farage’s party gains influence.