European Convention on Human Rights Debate

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Department: Home Office

European Convention on Human Rights

Henry Smith Excerpts
Tuesday 19th June 2012

(11 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Henry Smith Portrait Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)
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That being the case, why has our system apparently been so unbalanced over the past decade?

Yvette Cooper Portrait Yvette Cooper
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It was the Labour Government who introduced the UK Borders Act 2007, which provided for the automatic deportation of foreign criminals. The number of deportations of foreign criminals increased substantially from 2005 until the election in 2010, after which the number fell significantly. I therefore say to the hon. Gentleman that his Government bear some responsibility for the action that is being taken. More needs to be done in practice to deport foreign criminals, as opposed simply to discussions of the motion today.