Oral Answers to Questions

Ashley Fox Excerpts

Tuesday 10th December 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

1. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle hyper-prolific offenders.

[Joe Robertson (Isle of Wight East) (Con)]

11. What steps her Department is taking to help tackle hyper-prolific offenders.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Shabana Mahmood)]

We know that prolific offenders represent only 10% of offenders but account for nearly 50% of all sentences. That clearly cannot continue, which is why I have specifically asked David Gauke to look at this issue in the independent sentencing review, to ensure that we have fewer crimes committed by prolific criminals.

[Sir Ashley Fox]

I am grateful to the Lord Chancellor for her answer. Can she tell the House what data her Department holds on the nationality of prolific offenders, and what steps she will take to deport those who are non-British?

[Shabana Mahmood]

The hon. Member will know that we retain data on foreign national offenders, and this Government are on track to remove more foreign national offenders this year than in the previous year. I obviously want to make further progress on this issue, and I hope that there will be consensus across the House so that we remove those who commit crimes in this country and who have no right to be here.