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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 16 Mar 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"Will the Secretary of State give way?..."
Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 16 Mar 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

"I am grateful to the Secretary of State for giving way. Last year, the Government spoke about additional protection for war memorials. We all understand the value of war memorials. What we did not agree to, and I have never agreed to, is locking up people for 10 years for …..."
Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Foreign Nationals
Monday 4th May 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national offenders who have been released from custody early on licence (with conditions) with no fixed abode have been relocated in the last 12 months.

Answered by Lucy Frazer

The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme allows for the early release of offenders serving sentences of at least 12 weeks but no more than four years. Eligible prisoners can be released up to 135 days before their automatic release date but HDC is only permitted where the offender can provide a suitable, probation approved address to which they can be curfewed. Foreign National Offenders who have received a decision to deport are statutorily excluded from HDC, and those being considered for removal but whose decision is yet to be made are presumed unsuitable.

The End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme allows for the release of low risk offenders who are within two months of their automatic release date. Foreign national offenders who are being removed from the UK and who have exhausted in-country rights of appeal against removal are statutorily excluded from ECTR.

No prisoner is released through the ECTR scheme is granted this unless suitable accommodation is identified first.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Foreign Nationals
Monday 4th May 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria his Department uses to choose destinations for relocation of people released from custody early on licence (with conditions) with no fixed abode, and who are classified as foreign national offenders.

Answered by Lucy Frazer

The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme allows for the early release of offenders serving sentences of at least 12 weeks but no more than four years. Eligible prisoners can be released up to 135 days before their automatic release date but HDC is only permitted where the offender can provide a suitable, probation approved address to which they can be curfewed. Foreign National Offenders who have received a decision to deport are statutorily excluded from HDC, and those being considered for removal but whose decision is yet to be made are presumed unsuitable.

The End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme allows for the release of low risk offenders who are within two months of their automatic release date. Foreign national offenders who are being removed from the UK and who have exhausted in-country rights of appeal against removal are statutorily excluded from ECTR.

No prisoner is released through the ECTR scheme is granted this unless suitable accommodation is identified first.


Written Question
Prisoners' Release: Foreign Nationals
Monday 4th May 2020

Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how local authorities are (a) notified and (b) supported by his Department when foreign national offenders are released from custody early on licence (with conditions) with no fixed abode.

Answered by Lucy Frazer

The Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme allows for the early release of offenders serving sentences of at least 12 weeks but no more than four years. Eligible prisoners can be released up to 135 days before their automatic release date but HDC is only permitted where the offender can provide a suitable, probation approved address to which they can be curfewed. Foreign National Offenders who have received a decision to deport are statutorily excluded from HDC, and those being considered for removal but whose decision is yet to be made are presumed unsuitable.

The End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme allows for the release of low risk offenders who are within two months of their automatic release date. Foreign national offenders who are being removed from the UK and who have exhausted in-country rights of appeal against removal are statutorily excluded from ECTR.

No prisoner is released through the ECTR scheme is granted this unless suitable accommodation is identified first.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Apr 2020
Domestic Abuse Bill

"I would like to put on record my thanks to you, Mr Deputy Speaker, the Speaker, the House authorities and all staff for facilitating the sitting of the House in these most unusual circumstances.

I am grateful to the Lord Chancellor for his welcome. He and I have debated many …..."

Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Abuse Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Feb 2020
Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

"I am grateful to the Justice Secretary for his briefing last week and for his opening remarks, and to the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, the hon. Member for Croydon South (Chris Philp), who has been keeping me updated in recent days.

This Bill follows the awful terrorist atrocities first …..."

Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Feb 2020
Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

"I took part in a long debate on sentencing in the last Parliament with the then Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime, now the Secretary of State for Defence, and a number of sentences were increased. In her intervention on the Justice Secretary, the former Prime Minister pointed …..."
Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Feb 2020
Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

"I will come on to whether things have moved on in a moment when I explore what the Chief Inspector of Prisons says about that issue. Last Thursday, however—only days ago—Mr Acheson was clearly unsure of the Government’s position. I hear what the Justice Secretary says about what is in …..."
Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 Feb 2020
Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill

"I am pleased to hear that, and I hope we will never again be in a situation where someone who led a review is not aware of what is going on years later. That simply cannot and should not happen, as I am sure the Justice Secretary would agree.

There …..."

Nick Thomas-Symonds - View Speech

View all Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab - Torfaen) contributions to the debate on: Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill