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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Three foreign prisoners at large | Three foreign prisoners at large |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three of the most serious offenders at the centre of the foreign prisoners row which erupted in April remain at large six months on, the Home Office says. | Three of the most serious offenders at the centre of the foreign prisoners row which erupted in April remain at large six months on, the Home Office says. |
| The government came under fire after it emerged more than 1,000 foreign prisoners were released without being considered for deportation. | The government came under fire after it emerged more than 1,000 foreign prisoners were released without being considered for deportation. |
| It led to Home Secretary Charles Clarke resigning. Replacement John Reid said his department was not fit for purpose. | It led to Home Secretary Charles Clarke resigning. Replacement John Reid said his department was not fit for purpose. |
| So far, the government has managed to deport 86 foreign prisoners. | |
| Sex offenders, violent criminals and killers were among those released. | Sex offenders, violent criminals and killers were among those released. |
| Of the most serious cases, the government said there was strong evidence to suggest that two were no longer in the UK, leaving three at large. | Of the most serious cases, the government said there was strong evidence to suggest that two were no longer in the UK, leaving three at large. |
| Scandal | Scandal |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "It is stunning that almost a year after this issue was first raised and six months since John Reid has been in place, we have this incredibly slow progress. | |
| "These are truly appalling figures." | |
| Lin Homer, director general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, said in a letter to the Commons' all-party Home Affairs Select Committee: "Our records show that actual deportation or removal has now occurred in a total of 86 cases of the 1,013. | Lin Homer, director general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, said in a letter to the Commons' all-party Home Affairs Select Committee: "Our records show that actual deportation or removal has now occurred in a total of 86 cases of the 1,013. |
| "This should be set against the fact that we are pursuing deportation in 725 cases." | "This should be set against the fact that we are pursuing deportation in 725 cases." |
| Only four of the group of 44 most serious offenders have been deported, the letter showed. | |
| In the lower, "more serious" category - which covers other violent offenders such as armed robbers and other sexual offenders - a third of the 146 are still at large. | |
| There have been "no reports" to suggest any of the 1,013 foreign prisoners committed further crimes, Ms Homer added. | |
| Last month, the unit set up to trace the foreign prisoners was closed. | Last month, the unit set up to trace the foreign prisoners was closed. |
| Mr Reid said the decision to close it was on police advice and he added that efforts to ascertain the fate of the remaining criminals would go on. | Mr Reid said the decision to close it was on police advice and he added that efforts to ascertain the fate of the remaining criminals would go on. |