1,023 Foreign Prisoners Set Free Without Deportation

[Byzantine Mercenary]

has anyone else heard about this? 1,023 foreign prisoners have been set free in britain!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4949270.stm

''Mr Clarke apologised earlier this week after 1,023 foreign prisoners, including murderers, rapists and sex offenders, were allowed to walk free without being considered for deportation.

Mr Clarke told the Cabinet it was a "systemic problem like any other" and he hoped to report by the end of the week on the more serious prisoners. ''

more info here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4949614.stm

[Marcellus]

I never liked Charles Clarke, but after this he really does have to go. He says he needs to stay as it's his responsibility to sort the problem out, but the problem's been known for a very long time and yet he did nothing, despite several reports that stated that it was a major problem. He also decieived the media when he said only 'a very few' people had been released without being considered for deportation since the problem had been highlighted, when the actual figure was 288. By not getting the prison and immigration services to communicate with each other more effectively, he has failed in a key duty, and so cannot stay on as home secretary.

[rory_20_uk]

I heard the guy on Newsnight. At least he didn't try to dodge what a god-awful cock-up it was.
He should be judged on how he sorts the mess out... Erm, no. He should be sacked, and IMO investigated for this potential dangerous oversight / downright cover-up.
Sure, the institution sounds rotten to the core (3 departments to do 1 task - must be the Civil Service) but the head also has to roll.

[Crazed Rabbit]

If that's a systemic problem 'like any other' I'm glad as heck I don't live in Britain.

Crazed Rabbit

[Ja'chyra]

To be fair to him the problem has existed over the time of 3 home secretaries, makes it worse for Labour though.

I also think somone has to take responsibility, and the one who does should not be allowed to resign, they should be sacked the same as you or I would.

[English assassin]

Funny how the civil servants never lose their jobs, isn't it? Even if the minister goes, the people who actually cocked up always carry on until 60 and their big fat pensions...

[Ja'chyra]

Funny how the civil servants never lose their jobs, isn't it? Even if the minister goes, the people who actually cocked up always carry on until 60 and their big fat pensions...

Not quite true EA, HIGH RANKING civil servants never lose their jobs.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

has anyone else heard about this? 1,023 foreign prisoners have been set free in britain!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4949270.stm

''Mr Clarke apologised earlier this week after 1,023 foreign prisoners, including murderers, rapists and sex offenders, were allowed to walk free without being considered for deportation.

Mr Clarke told the Cabinet it was a "systemic problem like any other" and he hoped to report by the end of the week on the more serious prisoners. ''

more info here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4949614.stm

What?!? No more space on Australia?!?

[Don Corleone]

I think you're all a bunch of rascists. They served their time, they should be granted full citizenship and be allowed to go on the dole the moment they walk out of prison.

[Devastatin Dave]

Some might be unhappy about this, but atleast this will make JAG happy.

[Don Corleone]

I actually think I was channelling the old boy. Certainly didn't sound like me...

[Byzantine Mercenary]

I think you're all a bunch of rascists. They served their time, they should be granted full citizenship and be allowed to go on the dole the moment they walk out of prison.

it said foreign, not of a different race anyway i think the problem is that they aren't legal uk citazens and so shouldn't be in the uk anyway

[Crazed Rabbit]

Obviously you're just a hateful, nativist, racist who doesn't want to take the time to appreciate the greatness of multiculturalism and diversity and change your life to accomadate the whims of others.

Crazed Rabbit

[Byzantine Mercenary]

Obviously you're just a hateful, nativist, racist who doesn't want to take the time to appreciate the greatness of multiculturalism and diversity and change your life to accomadate the whims of others.

Crazed Rabbit

nope i am proud to be an immigrant to britain as all of us british folk are and am delighted to welcome more hardworking immigrants to come here many of them are my friends and i think that immigration over the centuarys is what made us such a unique and great nation but when were talking about rapists and murderors who are here illegally and have then commited crimes and are then set free while an assilum seeker who had commited a lesser offence (ie illegal imigration) is forced to leave

[Marcellus]

I believe Don Corleone and CR were being sarcastic.

[solypsist]

sarcasm or not, some people might take it the wrong way. personal attacks? maybe. let's get back on topic and cease the ad hominem.

[Don Corleone]

Fair enough. Marcellus was right, I was being sarcastic and I'm positive CR was too. It was just too much of a parallel to our own hot-button issue of the day here in the states to resist.

I wonder, if your Home Secretary proposes some policies to prevent this thing in the future, if you'll have mass protests staged and you'll call them "A day without rapists, murderers and thieves who weren't supposed to be in the country in the first place". I ask this, because MS-13 will probably be watching closely for ideas on their next big rally.

[Marcellus]

At least five of the foreign prisoners freed without being deported have gone on to commit more serious crimes.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the five had been convicted since release for offences relating to drugs, violent disorder and inflicting bodily harm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4954476.stm

This isn't looking good.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I was being sarcastic. Sorry for any offense, Byzantine Mercenary, it was assuredly not meant.

Crazed Rabbit

[Byzantine Mercenary]

don't worry i was not offended, i don't like to assume people are being sarcastic when i don't know their politics so i took your comments (semi) seriously.

i was just trying to confirm my position as regards to immigration in general as i do have support for legal immigration.

[SomeNick]

Wow, what is goin' on with your government?? I think I need to watch more TV...

[Scurvy]

i feel quite sorry for clarke, the problem was hardly his fault, and he seems to be the first home sec. to at least try to start to organize things, and sacking, or resigning him will only make the problem worse :(

[Marcellus]

i feel quite sorry for clarke, the problem was hardly his fault, and he seems to be the first home sec. to at least try to start to organize things, and sacking, or resigning him will only make the problem worse :(

Whilst many others are undoubtedly to blame for what happened, Charles Clarke must bear some of the responsibility. Of the 1,023 prisoners released without being considered for deportation, 288 were released after the Home Office was alerted to the problem. Such a large number indicates that the Home Secretary failed to act properly to resolve the problem, and as such he has to go. It also casts serious doubt over the claim by many in the Labour Party that Clarke is a good minister, and the most able minister to tackle the problem - if he was as competent as they say he is, then he would have sorted the problem out when he was alerted to it, not when it came to the attention of the media.

[ShadesWolf]

I thought the number was more like 3500. But I dont remember where I saw the article.

- 1,023 freed without being considered for deportation
- 79 of them originally jailed for more serious crimes, including 13 of them for murder, manslaughter, rape or child sex offences
- Five of them known to have committed offences since release - including violent disorder, drug crimes and grievous and actual bodily harm
- Deportation action now started for 63 of the 79 more serious criminals
- Officials have decided nine of the offenders should not be deported

Also on a side note -

Charles Clarke took more than three weeks to tell Tony Blair that serious criminals were among the foreign prisoners released, it has emerged

[Scurvy]

Whilst many others are undoubtedly to blame for what happened, Charles Clarke must bear some of the responsibility. Of the 1,023 prisoners released without being considered for deportation, 288 were released after the Home Office was alerted to the problem. Such a large number indicates that the Home Secretary failed to act properly to resolve the problem, and as such he has to go. It also casts serious doubt over the claim by many in the Labour Party that Clarke is a good minister, and the most able minister to tackle the problem - if he was as competent as they say he is, then he would have sorted the problem out when he was alerted to it, not when it came to the attention of the media.

how many competent ministers can you think of?

i agree he should take some of the blame (i didnt realize he had known that long and toaken so long to tell blair)

[Marcellus]

Well, Clarke's been sacked. Not particularly surprising, really.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4975938.stm

[English assassin]

Mmm, but two shags is still in the cabinet even though, err, he doesn't actually have a job any more.

I wish someone would pay me for not doing a job. I reckon I'd be good at not doing almost any job you care to name.

[InsaneApache]

No...I won't have that!!!...Prescott is a real working class guy, after all he must be down to his last £ 1, 000, 000.. A true working class hero.

This is whats always been wrong with the present administration, millionaires, one and all.

Over to you JAG.

[rory_20_uk]

He is working class:

He grasps power rather than tries to achieve results
He even went to a UN food conference and insisted on a plush hotel etc etc. His perceived stature is so important to him (and he is so insicure of it) he can't let it rest for anything.

Money has nothing to do with what class he is. Giving things to him is throwing pearls at swine.

[InsaneApache]

No, again, I can't let you call Prezza a swine, he's much more base than that. He's a cretin.

Mebbe they kept him on to serve the drinks during cabinet meetings, after all you should always know your level.

BTW mines a whisky, straight.