Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national offenders are incarcerated in the United Kingdom as of 22 October 2024.

As of 30 June 2024, there were 10,435 foreign nationals in HMPPS custody.

The number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) in prison in England and Wales is published quarterly in table 1_Q_11 of Offender Management Statistics, with the latest data (30 June 2024) available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66a1167cce1fd0da7b592c8d/Prison-population-30-June-2024.ods.

The removal of FNOs is an important priority of this Government. FNOs who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. This will help to manage prison pressures, keep the public safe and reduce crime.

Offender Management Statistics will next be published on 31 October 2024, covering the prison population as of 30 September 2024. Please note, the above figures relate only to foreign nationals detained in prison in England and Wales. Queries concerning the numbers of foreign nationals detained in non-prison settings, such as Immigration Removal Centres or Secure Hospitals, would need to be directed to the relevant government department. Queries on the number of foreign nationals held in custody in other legal jurisdictions within the United Kingdom would need to be directed to the relevant jurisdiction.