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| Drug traffickers passport blunder | Drug traffickers passport blunder |
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| Almost 150 convicted drug traffickers are free to travel abroad because of a criminal justice system blunder, the BBC has learned. | Almost 150 convicted drug traffickers are free to travel abroad because of a criminal justice system blunder, the BBC has learned. |
| It has emerged that the Identity and Passport Service has failed to enforce the courts' overseas travel bans. | It has emerged that the Identity and Passport Service has failed to enforce the courts' overseas travel bans. |
| The mistake is more evidence of failings at the Home Office, said BBC political correspondent Robin Brant. | The mistake is more evidence of failings at the Home Office, said BBC political correspondent Robin Brant. |
| But the government said the vast majority of the criminals handed such bans are still in jail. | But the government said the vast majority of the criminals handed such bans are still in jail. |
| However the Home Office is trying to trace 15 who were released and may have gone abroad. | However the Home Office is trying to trace 15 who were released and may have gone abroad. |
| 'Embarrassing bad news' | 'Embarrassing bad news' |
| The news that travel bans have apparently not been enforced on 147 drug traffickers comes after the Home Secretary John Reid was forced deny that he told judges to give criminals softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding. | The news that travel bans have apparently not been enforced on 147 drug traffickers comes after the Home Secretary John Reid was forced deny that he told judges to give criminals softer sentences to ease prison overcrowding. |
| Although, the home secretary explained he was merely re-stating existing guidelines and serious offenders should still be locked up, two judges released sex offenders, saying they were following his advice. | Although, the home secretary explained he was merely re-stating existing guidelines and serious offenders should still be locked up, two judges released sex offenders, saying they were following his advice. |
| The Conservatives subsequently accused Mr Reid of failing to protect the public and presiding over "anarchy" in his department. | The Conservatives subsequently accused Mr Reid of failing to protect the public and presiding over "anarchy" in his department. |
| On Friday, Rod Morgan, head of the England and Wales Youth Justice Board, resigned over overcrowding in youth prisons. | On Friday, Rod Morgan, head of the England and Wales Youth Justice Board, resigned over overcrowding in youth prisons. |
| A Home Office spokeswoman refuted the claim that young people are being "demonised and criminalised". | A Home Office spokeswoman refuted the claim that young people are being "demonised and criminalised". |
| Figures released earlier show the prison population in England and Wales is at bursting point, having reached 79,731, an increase of 356 on last Friday. | Figures released earlier show the prison population in England and Wales is at bursting point, having reached 79,731, an increase of 356 on last Friday. |
| The Shadow Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, gave his reaction to the latest controversy to BBC News 24. | |
| "I think it's very bad news for John Reid. | |
| "He's come in, he's come in as the tough man, he's made a whole series of utterances, many of which again are far removed from reality, and what he's finding, and I think quite painfully, is that as time moves on, in fact many of the things he said are grossly inaccurate." | |