‘No apology’ after Patel deports Jamaican crooks

But city flight left with just five people after legal challenges

HOME Secretary Priti Patel says she makes “no apology” for removing Jamaican nationals from the UK on a flight which left Birmingham Airport last Tuesday.

The controversial flight was originally supposed to take around 50 people to the Caribbean – but in the end carried five or less deportees following last-minute legal challenges.

Law firm Duncan Lewis confirmed a judge halted one of their clients’ removal after learning they had lived in the UK from a young age.

Ms Patel said 33 people were hauled off the flight at the eleventh hour, and hit out at the legal system.

She said: “It is absolutely galling that, yet again, last-minute legal claims have stopped the removal of 33 people – including those guilty of abhorrent crimes such as murder and child sexual offences.

“This is why our Nationality and Borders Bill will deliver changes to law to make it easier to remove foreign criminals and prevent them gaming the broken system.”

Speaking about the few who did leave, Ms Patel, pic tured, added: “The people removed to Jamaica are convicted criminals, found guilty of a range of serious offences – they have no place in our society.

“I make no apology for removing foreign national offenders who have committed crimes which will have had a devastating impact on their victims.”

The charter flight also came under fire for taking so few people, despite having a 350-seat-capacity.

Birmingham community leader Desmond Jaddoo spoke to a male deportee moments before the flight took off and said it

was “like talking to someone on their way to the gallows”.

Mr Jaddoo added: “This is the usual narrative from the Home Office. Clearly if there is a judicial issue, then that has to be

addressed.

“In terms of the crimes committed, I am certain not everyone falls into the unfortunate narrative which has been given.

“I find these populist statements to be rather unhelpful, particularly when addressing families which have been torn apart.

“It would be helpful if the Home Office was more transparent in their decision-making processes, instead of using the same narrative breakdown they are expressing.”

He added there was “no justification” for a flight to depart with less than five people.

“It went to Jamaica at a major cost to the economy and environment – as this flight could be argued to be an unnecessary expense on the British taxpayer.”