Leaving the EU could make it more difficult to deport foreign criminals from the UK, the Home Secretary has warned Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman.
During a Parliamentary Question about the removal of foreign national offenders, Matt highlighted to the Home Secretary once again that Boston has seen a higher than usual amount of serious crimes committed by foreign nationals. However, he warned that leaving the EU and having to negotiate separate deportation agreements with each EU member state would not make residents safer.
The Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, agreed with Matt, noting that the single Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision makes the UK safer, and that we do not know if it will even be possible to negotiate similar, individual agreements with each member state should we leave the EU.
Matt said, “I was pleased that the Home Secretary has taken on board concerns which I have repeatedly raised with her about serious crime committed by foreign nationals in Boston, but we both agree that leaving the EU would be a risk to being able to deport those who commit such crimes. More action does need to be taken to ensure that we can deport more foreign criminals and this government is taking it with investment and improved sharing of data. The UK has no duty to accept criminals from either inside or outside the EU, and we are best placed to undertake necessary deportations as a member of the EU. We can build on the processes already in place rather than risk delays due to having to negotiate 27 new agreements. It’s just one example of the dangerous gamble with all our futures that would be involved in leaving the EU.”