Immigration rules may ban foreign criminals

FOREIGN criminals sentenced to more than a year in jail could be banned from entering Britain under new immigration rules.

The Government revealed more information on how the new pointsbased immigration system – which is due to come into force on January 1 after freedom of movement ends – could work.

Papers published on Monday confirmed intentions to refuse entry to those with a conviction carrying a custodial sentence of at least 12 months.

The change would mean criminals from the European Union are treated the same as currently happens to those from non-EU countries.

Under the present rules, convicted criminals from the bloc can only be excluded on a case-by-case basis.

A policy document said: “A robust and consistent approach to applying the UK criminality thresholds for the refusal of entry, permission to remain in the UK, deportation and exclusion, to EU and non-EU citizens, will be taken as part of the points-based System.”

It added that those seeking to come to the UK can also be refused where they have:

Committed an offence which caused serious harm;

Are a persistent offender who shows a particular disregard for the law;

Their character, conduct or associations means their presence is not conducive to the public good.

Anyone already in the UK who has been sentenced to a year or more in prison “must be considered for deportation”, the papers add.

The document said: “Where the 12-month criminality deportation threshold is not met, a foreign criminal will still be considered for deportation where it is conducive to the public good, including where they have serious or persistent criminality.

“For EU citizens who are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement or the UK’s domestic implementation of the withdrawal agreements, the tougher UK criminality thresholds will apply to conduct committed after the end of the transition period.

“The EU public policy, public security or public health test will continue to apply to their conduct committed before the end of the transition period.”

It said the enforcement system would be “fair, protects the public, upholds our immigration policies, and acts as a deterrent to those who might seek to frustrate those policies”, adding: “Those who breach our immigration laws and rules place themselves at risk of exploitation by unscrupulous bodies such as organised crime groups and rogue employers and landlords.”

The new immigration system is designed to cut the number of lowskilled migrants entering Britain, but aims to make it easier for higherskilled workers to get UK visas.

People who want to live and work in the UK will need to gain 70 points to be eligible to apply for a visa.

Points will be awarded for key requirements like being able to speak English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a minimum salary threshold. A health and care visa will provide a visa route for key health professionals.