More than a dozen killers and nearly 140 sex offenders have been deported from Britain since the start of the year, the Home Office said yesterday.

DAVID BARRETT

More than a dozen killers and nearly 140 sex offenders have been deported from Britain since the start of the year, the Home Office said yesterday.

Immigration minister Liam Byrne revealed the figures as part of an update on the total number of foreign criminals removed from the country.

Overall, 2417 foreign offenders were deported in the first six months of the year, a 22% increase on the same point in 2007.

The Home Office moved to tighten up procedures on foreign criminals two years ago after it emerged that more than 1000 had been freed from jail without being considered for deportation, costing former Home Secretary Charles Clarke his job.

Mr Byrne said the figures meant the government was on target to remove a total of 5000 foreign criminals by the end of 2008, which would be 800 more than were removed last year.

The total deported by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) so far included 15 killers, 137 sex offenders and 844 drug offenders, the minister said.

"I have said repeatedly that there is no hiding place for those that come to Britain and break our rules, which is why already this year we've rid the country of over 2400 foreign lawbreakers," he added.

"In January I set the UK Border Agency the tough target of removing 5000 foreign criminals by the end of the year, an increase on last year's record-breaking levels.

"I am pleased that we are on track to meet this target."

The Home Office also said 6000 illegal migrants have been barred from entering Britain at "juxtaposed controls" - UK border checks within France and other European countries - since the beginning of the year.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: "Gordon Brown said he wanted a message to go out to foreign national criminals.

"In fact, by releasing twice as many foreign prisoners as the government has removed, the signal he has sent is that criminals can still come to the country, commit a crime, and the chances are they won't be deported but will walk free having been released early from prison."

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve added: "The foreign prisoner scandal was so shocking that it cost the then Home Secretary his job.

"Now we see that over two years later the government still have not got a grip on the issue."

A Home Office spokesman: "We have repeatedly said we would target the most dangerous first which is why we are initially targeting those who have served more than 12 months or are recommended for deportation by a judge. But that does not mean others are slipping through the net, we are increasingly deporting those with shorter sentences."