Clarke promises to get tough on deportation
Clarke promises to get tough on deportation
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Wednesday, 03, May 2006 09:18
Charles Clarke has today promised to toughen up deportation laws following the furore over the release of more than 1,000 foreign prisoners.
The home secretary succumbed to intense pressure and faced MPs in the Commons today, where he delivered an update on the 1,023 prisoners who had been freed without the authorities considering whether or not they should be deported.
Admitting that there had been a "systemic failure in the Home Office for which I regret and for which I've apologised", Mr Clarke admitted that 38 serious offenders were still at large.
Of the 79 most serious cases, 70 prisoners will be deported while nine will remain in the UK, the home secretary said. Of those 70 set for deportation, 32 had been traced, while the authorities are "continuing priority operations to bring the remainder under control".
Mr Clarke reiterated that a Somali man wanted in connection with the murder of Bradford policewoman Sharon Beshenivsky was not one of those prisoners released although admitted that case does "raise important issues of policy".
Mustaf Jama is currently on the run having been granted leave to stay in this country because Somalia was considered too dangerous to send him back to.
The home secretary said that, out of all of the 1,023 cases of freed foreign prisoners, 574 have been tracked of which 446 have been deported – meaning 549 could still be in the community.
Mr Clarke insisted that the situation would be put right, saying that "as a result of a series of decisions taken earlier this year including improved management structures, more resources and tightened procedures we have for the past month had a system to ensure that further cases cannot be missed".
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have publicly called for Mr Clarke to resign over the fiasco, but today he again reiterated his determination to stay.
"This has been an unedifying episode for all of us in the Home Office who are charged with the protection of the public. But I said that I would stay and put the situation right," he declared.
This was not enough to satisfy Tory leader David Cameron, however, who accused Labour ministers, including Mr Clarke, of "losing control of their departments".
"The answer is not more laws: the answer is certainly not more headlines: the answer is a more competent home secretary," Mr Cameron said. "That is the very least the British public deserves."
Earlier, at prime minister's questions, Tony Blair had once again offered his support for his home secretary over the furore, insisting that it was "completely wrong to say that this problem was created or began under this home secretary".
But the prime minister's absence from the House during Mr Clarke's statement – a repeat of his early exit last week - was noted by shadow home secretary David Davis, who quipped that Mr Blair was offering Mr Clarke "his usual support".
Many observers feel that Mr Clarke has today done enough to remain in his job for the time being, but his future in the Cabinet is likely to be determined over the coming days as it becomes clearer whether any of the released prisoners have committed further serious offences.