2 prisons full of foreigners

[gina32]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20071024/tuk -two-jails-filled-with-foreigners-6323e80_1.ht ml

why not just send them back instead of having to pay for them to stay here

[naomi24]

If deportation was automatically carried out following punishment, it might even go some way to deterring criminals in the first place. Foreigners eager to live in Britain might think twice before committing crime if the penalty included deportation. And the criteria should be 'one strike and you're out', regardless of the gravity of the crime.

[Sweep2k]

Sambro wrote:

"The problem is that if one of them sticks their head above the parapet they get shouted down and labelled "racist. xenophobic or facist". And the PC brigade have a field day with them."

I'd be prepared to bet that this sentiment is trotted out on AB more frequently than any other.

I might start running a tally between this one, 'This country is going to the dogs' and 'It's PC gone mad!' and take bets at the start of each week.

[Supernick]

Naomi24 - I don't doubt that in some cases deportation is definitely the correct policy. For most serious crimes perpetrated by illegal entrants to the country, then there really isn't much of a case for anything else, hence the reasons for these prisons in the first place. But are you proposing deportation for those people who have legally settled in this country as well?

[naomi24]

Supernick, yes, I am.

[Supernick]

Little harsh don't you think? Is this only for sentences that warrent jail time, or any criminal conviction of any sort?

[naomi24]

Supernick, for all crime - if people want to live here they should obey the law.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Does this 'send them back' policy only apply to first generation immigrants, or their kids too?

Also, would this be a blanket approach? Let's say an Asian businessman gets involved in a fight on a Friday night and gets convicted of causing an affray, but isn't given a custodial sentence. Should he be 'sent back'?

What I'm asking is - how serious does the crime need to be?

Also, would there be a time period involved? Would an immigrant have to keep his/her 'nose clean' for a number of years before they can commit a crime without fear of deportation?

Finally to make things equitable, what would you suggest we do to British criminals after they're released from jail?

I mean, if you're going to deport foreign criminals, you have to do something extra to British ex-cons or it isn't fair.

Perhaps we could have a system where Daily Mail readers can take part in a free lottery to win places to beat up British prisoners with metal crow bars and bits of two-by-four.

[eyeshade]

They shouldn't have been allowed in in the first damn place! If they don't have the necessary points to come here, i.e. presumably the Africans, Jamaicans etc. non europeans, then why were they allowed to stay to come and comit crime. Surely they should have been sent back there and then when they got off the plane.

However, having said that, I think that if they have committed the crime here, then they should serve their sentence here and then deport them, but then of course their families will be here as well won't they and we can allow that can we!!

[Supernick]

Would your heads explode if a long term legal immigrant, good job, active in the community, and an absolute credit to the country was given a fine for punching a burgler in his own home, and then promptly deported back to his country of origin? I think they would.

[China Doll]

Heads explode at the idea of a long term legal immigrant with a good job who's active in the community and a credit to the country.

[ruby27]

eyeshade

legal immigrants are allowed into this country. On the BBC report yesterday the stats were shown about the nationality of the prisoners. A large percentage were Irish. As far as I can recall Eire is part of Europe - but I might be wrong.

naomi24

What about the criminals who have family here. Should the shoplifter be deported and all the family as well, even those who are filling jobs that need filling?

[sp1814]

eyeshade

Are you suggesting that the Immigration Service be supplied with some kind of 'Back To The Future' style Delorean cars so that they could travel into the future, check whether someone will commit a crime and then base their decisions on that?

Or maybe we should take the theme of 'Minority Report' as a basis for our immigration poli...

...look, will someone with right wing view please post something worthy of a response?

This is like challengign Stevie Wonder to a game of tiddlywinks for God's sake.

[naomi24]

Dear me, you lot are getting your knickers in a knot.

SP, I'm not about to enter into a list of various crimes. If people come here they should respect our laws - full stop. I would only deport first generation immigrants who commit crime - I don't consider those born here to be immigrants.

"Would an immigrant have to keep his/her nose clean before they can commit a crime without fear of deportation?" What a peculiar question! I have visions of someone saying "oh well, it's ok, I've been here for five years so I can go out robbing or killing now - I'm safe".

As for fairness, isn't it time we thought about fairness to those who want to live in a safer country - and to the honest, hardworking taxpayers - and that includes the honest, hardworking immigrants who work and pay their way? We can't deport home-bred criminals, but I don't see why we should allow criminals from overseas who come to this country and benefit it in no way whatsoever, to stay here. Not only do we pay to haul them through the courts and to keep them in prison, we very often pay to keep the families of criminals at least whilst the husbands and fathers are in prison. I'm pretty sure if deportation was part of the penalty package, many foreign criminals would think twice before committing any sort of crime. With our soft approach, I also wonder how many of these people are released only to re-offend, and so begin the whole process again?

Finally, even though the continual banging on about Daily Mail readers by some ABers, clearly in a futile attempt to make themselves sound intelligent, is becoming pretty yawn-worthy, your idea of a lottery may well be a consideration. Unfortunately, I won't see the results since I don't read the Daily Mail.

[naomi24]

Supernick, you have a very good point - and I don't think anyone would agree that that particular law is either fair or rational (but you never know on AB!). However, I believe it is currently under review - and rightly so - although I'm sorry, I don't have a link.

Ruby, yes the family should be deported too. The promise of that as a result of criminal activity would act as an additional deterrent - and if there were any jobs left vacant, they could be filled by able-bodied people who currently refuse to work and prefer to live on benefits.

China, a pointless comment, but nevertheless take a look. I chose politics, as it's the quickest option on the internet, but you'll find plenty here who are active in the community and a credit to the country - and good for them. It's a pity those immigrants in our prisons don't follow their example and aim to become respectable members of society.

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/mgMemberIn dex.asp?GL=1&bcr=1

http://www.bradford.gov.uk/asp/councillors/byn ame.asp

http://domino.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Web/CE_Membe rs.nsf