Free to re – offend

News reports  tell us there are about 4000 immigrants released from jail who haven’t been or will not be deported. Most of them are living in limbo – free to roam the streets and re- offend.

Mr Vine – the Chief Inspector of the Border Agency discovered that, as of May this year, there were 3,775 foreign criminals who had been released from prison but had not been deported. Nine in ten had been granted bail by the courts.

Of those at large, 87 had committed crimes in the “most serious” offence category which includes murder, rape and paedophilia. More than 400 were in the “more serious” category such as serious violence or other sexual offences. Another 1,600 have finished their sentences but remain either in prison or immigration detention awaiting deportation because they pose a high risk. A further 12 are missing after either being released directly from court or referred incorrectly, he said.

I find the justice system a curious thing. Some of these offenders who will be deported will most likely re-offend and commit heinous crimes in their country of origin. The self-preservation of the justice system is very blatant as it reflects its jurisdiction to preserve and protect human life but only British citizens and not humanity in general. So it’s ok for the UK to release a SriLankan serial rapist done for GBH back to Sri Lanka. Who cares what he’ll do in Sri Lanka, so long as Brits are rid of him hey?

I’m sure in developed countries something is done with the information and a deported criminal isn’t just let loose on the streets, but what about those less developed nations where corruption is rife and justice goes to the highest bidder? Places where more people live in fear for their safety on a daily basis – who’s looking out for the little guy?

striking pose of the Home Secretary Theresa May

While we’re considering what the Border Agency has revealed, it’s difficult to ignore the ongoing immigration scandal it is embroiled in? Early this week Migration Watch  revealed findings from a survey which revealed that 8 in 10 Brits feel the UK is over crowded – shocking news! Right? Wrong.  

Whether the UK is overcrowded or not is beside the point, we all know what popular perception is about immigration, having the stats to prove it only helps to raise fears and cause confusion about it, the result – knee jerk reactions by the Border Agency.

Which makes it the worst time for news reports to reveal immigration officers have waved people through the gates without checks -  I’m sure a lot of Nigerian travellers can not identify with the complaints that not enough passport checks are being made at border control – thousands of potential terrorists may have been welcomed in, but I get the sense even if immigration officers were directly instructed by the Prime Minister to wave everyone through, they’d still stop and check Nigerians and give them the third degree. 

I have to say though, this is probably not the best time for Nigerians to be under the immigration spotlight. News of bribes for visas by Nigerians not only worried me, it made me feel ashamed. Like it wasn’t difficult enough being Nigerian, here’s one more thing that would cause extra attention at passport control. Reading about the visa corruption just made me shake my head. I can just imagine it. Someone decides they’d like to travel to London and then a friend of a friend tells them they know this guy that can arrange the ‘pali’ but it’ll cost them. It goes without saying that there will be repercussions for this and a lot of genuine travellers will be affected, somehow i get the sense this would have huge financial repercussions, it always does.

Anyway… thanks for enduring my immigration rant… needed to get that off my chest… next post!

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