Immigration and Prisons: Information Sharing
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure timely information sharing between prison authorities and immigration enforcement agencies.
Answered by Dame Angela Eagle
The sharing of information between the Home Office and HMPPS is essential to carry out the effective operation of the immigration and justice systems.
Foreign national offenders (FNOs) are referred to the Home Office for deportation immediately following sentencing by HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS).
The Home Office has Immigration Prison Teams (IPTs), whose officers are based in prisons and meet regularly with Offender Management Units to discuss and share information about FNOs. In addition, HMPPS have also recently announced a 12-month pilot to ringfence FNO Liaison Officers in roles designed to speed up FNO removals.
The Home Office continues to work closely with HMPPS to maximise removals directly from prison. Between 5 July 2024 and 31 January 2025, 1,557 ERS returns have taken place, which is a 26% increase compared to 1,231 in the same period 12 months prior.
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