India joins UK list whose citizens can be deported before appeal

LONDON: India is among 15 countries added to a list of eight whose nationals, when convicted of crimes in the UK, will no longer be able to delay their deportation by appealing against the decision to remove them.Under a "deport now, appeal later" initiative, they will be deported and have to take part in any hearing related to any appeal against deportation remotely from India via video link. Terrorists, murderers and those serving life sentences will continue to have to serve their prison sentence in Britain before being considered for deportation.Previously, offenders from the countries in question could remain in the UK for years while they appealed being deported under human rights laws.

Indians who are deported are barred from re-entering the UK. Once back in their home country, it is up to India whether they are sent to prison or freed.Until now, UK could deport foreign criminals from eight countries without appeal in the UK - namely Finland, Nigeria, Estonia, Albania, Belize, Mauritius, Tanzania and Kosovo. New countries added to the list are Angola, Australia, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Uganda and Zambia. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said, "Our message is clear: if you break our laws, we will send you packing.

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