More Than 150 Rioters Who Caught ‘were Foreign Nationals and Will Be Deported’

güttsfükk · #1 ● 08-20-2011, 10:17 AM

Hundreds of foreigners arrested for their part in the riots now face deportation.

Immigration Minister Damian Green has promised foreign rioters and looters will be thrown out of Britain at the ‘earliest opportunity’.

Around 150 of the 2,800 people arrested over the looting and arson attacks were born abroad, according to the UK Border Agency.

They include a failed asylum seeker who is accused of looting clothes and cash from a branch of department store BHS in Walthamstow, East London.

Algerian national Abderazak Boussag, 23, was arrested after police found the fingerprint of his teenage co-defendant at the store and raided his home in Leyton.

Yesterday Immigration Minister Damian Green said: ‘We strongly believe that foreign national lawbreakers should be removed from the UK at the earliest opportunity.

‘We also have the power to cancel the visas of foreign nationals found guilty of criminal activity, and this is something we will be looking to do when cases arise.

‘Last week saw unprecedented criminality on our streets and the courts are now dispensing firm justice to ensure those responsible are punished.’

The move has re-ignited the row over tough sentences being handed to children and adults who took part in the disorder.

Yesterday Bradford East MP David Ward accused Mr Green of headline-grabbing.

‘This almost seems to be a competition to see who can come out with the most macho response' Mr Ward said.

He added:‘To have a blanket policy for all is just nonsense.’

Tom Brake, Lib-Dem home affairs spokesman, said the Government would ‘need to exercise caution’ – particularly in cases where foreigners have families established in the UK.

Under immigration rules, criminals from outside Europe are automatically put forward for deportation if they are sentenced to 12-months in prison.

The same applies to Europeans given a 12-month sentence for drugs, violent or sexual crimes, or 24 months for other crimes.

But courts can recommend deportation in other instances, and the UK Border Agency is able to revoke visas for anyone found guilty of criminal activity.

However, offenders can use the Human Rights Act to appeal against deportation on grounds that they are entitled to a family life or to avoid the risk of torture.

New research shows that courts are handing down prison sentences to convicted rioters that are on average 25 per cent longer than normal.

But Lib-Dems have attacked David Cameron's calls for ‘zero tolerance’ to street crime and his backing for long sentences being handed down by the courts.

Plans to strip away benefits have also been described as ‘bonkers’ by Wells MP Tessa Munt, while there has also been opposition to removing council homes from troublemakers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-deported.html