Deported criminals who sneak back into Britain face up to five years in jail

Deported foreign criminals who sneak back into Britain will be jailed for up to five years under a crackdown to be announced this week by Priti Patel.

The Home Secretary is to increase the maximum prison sentence from the current six months to five years for anyone caught illegally back in Britain after being deported for a criminal offence.

The move, part of a new Sovereign Borders Bill reforming the “broken” asylum system, will also see increases in the penalties for illegal migrants, who currently face up to six months in jail, and human traffickers who will face life sentences, up from the current maximum of 14 years.

Every foreign traveller will also face a criminal check before they get on a plane to Britain in an attempt to deter and prevent foreign criminals from entering the UK. The change replicates tough US measures introduced after the 9/11 terror attack to keep out people who pose a threat to the US.

Under the plans, all overseas visitors – including those from EU member states – will be forced to apply for permission to enter the UK before starting their journey. This will provide a chance to screen arrivals in advance of them setting off.

Travellers will have their details automatically checked against watch lists and criminal databases – and those who have previously committed crimes will have their applications reviewed to decide if they should be let in.

Officials will be able to block dangerous people from coming before they board flights.

Signalling the changes at the weekend, Ms Patel said: “Illegal immigration is facilitated by serious organised criminals exploiting people and profiting from human misery. 

“It is counter to our national interest because the same criminal gangs and networks are also responsible for other illicit activity ranging from drug and firearms trafficking to serious violent crimes.

“Our New Plan for Immigration will make big changes, building a new system that is fair but firm. We will continue to encourage asylum via safe and legal routes whilst at the same time toughening our stance towards illegal entry and the criminals that endanger life by enabling it.”

The crackdown on returning deportees follows an investigation by The Telegraph which revealed how a prolific Albanian burglar twice deported from the UK for his crimes sneaked back into Britain as an illegal immigrant. He even posted Instagram pictures of his high life drinking cocktails and driving a Porsche.

Doran Puka, 26, was originally jailed for nine months in 2016 and then deported the following year for attempting to break into a property when the owner spotted him on a webcam while on holiday in France.

Yet, within a year, he managed to evade border controls and return to the UK where he carried out a string of burglaries in suburban London.

Puka was eventually caught wearing an expensive watch he had stolen when he was spotted by plain clothes officers patrolling Surbiton in south west London after the increase in burglaries locally. He was jailed for three and a half years and then deported in March 2020.

During his time in prison in the UK, he earned notoriety for using an illegal mobile phone smuggled into the jail to post Instagram pictures of himself with other criminals.

After returning to his native Albania for several months, he travelled through Germany, Belgium and Netherlands before beating border checks to enter Britain again in December 2020.

Pictures posted on Instagram showed him in the London commuter suburb of Richmond, Surrey, wearing a Covid-19 mask and standing next to a £70,000 Porsche estate car on Christmas Eve. 

Home Office figures show the number of foreign criminals living freely in the UK who are eligible for deportation has exceeded 10,000 for the first time. Almost 3,000 were released from prison more than five years ago but have still not been deported by the Home Office.