Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the Public Accounts Committee report on Managing and removing foreign national offenders, said:

“This is a damning report of failure and incompetence in the Home Office. Previous Home Secretaries have resigned over this kind of thing, yet time and again Theresa May just hides and blames everyone else.

“David Cameron’s government is deporting fewer foreign criminals, criminal records are not being checked at the borders, basic errors are delaying deportations, and information isn’t being shared  with the police. A shocking 750 criminals who were supposed to be deported - including rapists and violent offenders - have gone missing in Britain and the Home Office hasn’t a clue where they are.

“Theresa May should explain urgently why 151 foreign offenders have been released from prison without even being considered for deportation – including 2 for sexual assault – and why over the last two years the department has been forced to pay out £6.2million in compensation to 229 offenders because of Home Office delays in dealing with their cases.
 
“This report makes clear that David Cameron’s government has never treated the problem of foreign criminals as a priority. The Prime Minister and Home Secretary need to take responsibility for four and a half years of growing chaos and incompetence that is undermining trust in the immigration system and putting public safety at risk.”