Over the past year, there’s been a sharp rise in the number of foreign nationals locked up in prisons across England and Wales.
According to new figures released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), overseas offenders are increasingly occupying jail cells, especially those convicted of violent and sexual crimes.
The data marks the first time prison numbers have been broken down by nationality, and the results have sparked heated political debate.
Surge in Foreign Nationals Convicted of Serious Crimes
As of June 2025, the number of foreign sex offenders in British prisons jumped nearly 10 percent from the previous year, reaching 1,731.
That’s a much steeper increase compared to British sex offenders.
Similarly, 3,250 foreign nationals are currently jailed for violent crimes—an 8.8 percent rise in just 12 months.
In comparison, the number of British inmates convicted of violence grew by only 4.8 percent during the same period.
Foreign nationals now account for around 10.6% of all imprisoned sex offenders and 10.5% of those jailed for violence against another person.
Taxpayer Burden Reaches Over £360 Million
With more than 10,772 foreign inmates in the system, foreign nationals make up 12% of the total prison population in England and Wales—one of the highest figures in at least a decade.
Conservative Party estimates say it costs the country over £360 million annually to house these offenders.
At £54,000 per prisoner each year, deporting all foreign inmates currently serving sentences could save taxpayers roughly £220 million in the first year alone.
Political Tensions Rise Over Deportation Demands
This growing trend has triggered strong responses from political leaders.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick is calling for immediate deportation of all foreign criminals, urging the government to suspend visas and withhold aid from countries that refuse to take their nationals back.
However, Labour officials countered the accusations, claiming that deportations have actually increased under their administration.
“We’re not soft on this,” a Labour source stated.
“If someone breaks the law, especially as a visitor or migrant, they don’t get to stay.”
Drug Offences and Nationality Breakdown
The figures also show that foreign nationals are twice as likely to be jailed for drug-related crimes compared to British offenders.
Foreigners now make up nearly 20% of inmates convicted for dealing or possessing illegal substances.
Among the prison population, Albanians make up the largest foreign group with 1,193 inmates, despite a drop from a previous high of 1,475 in 2023.
Other significant groups include nationals from Poland (759), Romania (716), Ireland (707), Lithuania (339), and Jamaica (338).
Increases were also recorded among prisoners from India (17% up), Iran (10%), Afghanistan (28%), Sudan (32%), and Syria (46%).
More Foreigners Entering Prison for the First Time
New entries to prison are also on the rise.
The number of foreign offenders entering prison for the first time increased by 7 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same time last year—more than double the rise among British first-time offenders.
Albanian (567), Romanian (350), and Polish (261) nationals topped the list for new imprisonments, together making up about one-third of the 3,579 first-time foreign inmates between January and March this year.
Violence Behind Bars Also Rising
The prison system is not only dealing with overcrowding but also increasing violence.
Assaults on prison staff climbed 7 percent in the past year, hitting a new record of 10,568 incidents.
On top of that, there were seven homicides in prisons in the 12 months leading up to June 2025.
That’s a significant jump from the previous year, which reported no prison homicides.
Government Says It’s Cracking Down
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice stated that over 5,000 foreign national offenders were deported last year.
They also emphasized that new laws are being introduced to allow foreign prisoners to be removed from the country earlier than ever before.
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused the Labour government of letting prisons become a “safe haven” for foreign offenders.
“Every pound spent housing a foreign rapist or trafficker is one less pound we can spend fixing schools or policing our streets,” he said, pledging that a future Tory government would prioritize deportation.
What Happens Next?
With foreign inmates making up a growing percentage of prisoners and increasing costs to the public, the pressure on the government to act decisively is only going to intensify.
The spotlight is now on how fast new laws can be passed, how efficiently deportations can be carried out, and whether the rising trend of foreign offenders in UK prisons can be brought under control.