London
More than 1,000 foreign criminals who should have been considered for deportation after serving prison sentences in the U.K. were set free instead, Home Secretary Charles Clarke revealed last week. Touching off a political firestorm, Clarke also acknowledged that more than 288 of the accidental releases, which began in 1999 and continued through March 2006, occurred after he had been made aware of the problem last year. Clarke’s announcement prompted immediate calls for his resignation, which intensified after newspapers reported that at least five of the freed prisoners were later charged in new drug-related or violent crimes. “I very much regret the shortcomings which I’ve reported,” Clarke said. But he refused to step down, and Prime Minister Tony Blair said Clarke has his support.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group textSpeed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
-
Today's political cartoons - April 21, 2025Cartoons Monday's cartoons - Ice, egg prices, and more
-
Pope Francis dies at 88Speed Read 'How much contempt is stirred up at times toward the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants,' Pope Francis wrote in his final living message
