Nearly 7,000 foreign criminals including some from Africa who were eligible for deportation are still living in Britain more than five years after completing their prison sentences, according to figures obtained by The Sun newspaper of the UK.
The figures have renewed scrutiny of Britain’s deportation system, particularly the legal and administrative obstacles that can keep foreign offenders in the country long after they have served their sentences.
The Sun reported that 6,945 foreign national offenders subject to deportation remained in the community more than five years after leaving prison. The figure is almost twice the 3,460 recorded in 2022.
The wider picture is also significant. Home Office figures show that 21,294 foreign national offenders subject to deportation were being monitored in the community at the end of June 2026. That was 12 per cent higher than a year earlier. The Government says the increase was partly linked to changes introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026, including a wider duty to deport some offenders given suspended sentences.
Among those affected are offenders from a wide range of countries, including African nationals. One case highlighted in reporting is that of Nigerian national Gift Oladele.
Oladele had previously successfully challenged deportation proceedings on human rights grounds after being jailed for a sexually motivated attack. He subsequently committed another serious sexual offence in Wrexham. He was convicted of rape and sexual assault and sentenced in April 2026 to 17 years in prison, followed by an extended licence period.
The case has become part of the wider debate over whether deportation decisions are being delayed for too long when offenders establish family or other personal ties in Britain.
Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life, can be relevant in deportation appeals. Courts are required to balance those rights against the public interest in removing foreign criminals.
Another case that attracted widespread attention involved Albanian national Klevis Disha. His deportation appeal considered the circumstances of his young son, including sensory difficulties and a restricted diet. The case generated headlines because court documents referred to the child’s difficulty with the type of chicken nuggets available abroad. The tribunal nevertheless considered a broader range of welfare and family circumstances in reaching its decision.
A separate case involving Romanian national Darius Hirtie also reached the Court of Appeal in 2026. Hirtie had been sentenced to 39 months for wounding with intent and argued that deportation would interfere with his family life. The litigation demonstrates the legal complexity surrounding deportation cases involving partners and children in Britain.
The Government insists that action is being taken. Home Office statistics show that 5,962 foreign national offenders were returned from Britain in the year ending June 2026, the highest figure recorded since 2017.
The Government has also said that more than 11,700 foreign national offenders have been returned since the 2024 election.
But the growing number of offenders remaining in the community means the issue is unlikely to disappear. For ministers, the challenge is to remove those who are legally deportable while navigating appeals, family rights, documentation problems and other barriers under British and international law.
The figures have therefore placed renewed pressure on the Home Office to demonstrate that deportation orders are not simply being made, but actually enforced.
