Foreign Criminals 'Not Deported'
The home secretary says he "regrets" that 1,023 foreign prisoners have been allowed to walk free when they were meant to be considered for deportation.
They include three murderers and nine rapists, Home Office figures show.
Charles Clarke said he could not say "hand on heart" that they would all be tracked down but said he did not think it was a "resigning matter".
The Lib Dems accused ministers of incompetence. The Tories are demanding Mr Clarke answer to Parliament.
Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis accused Mr Clarke of trying to "smuggle out" the news rather than face MPs' questions.
"At the end of the day it's not good enough to blame officials, frankly it is a issue which affects the safety of the British public," argued Mr Davis.
The home secretary says he "regrets" that 1,023 foreign prisoners have been allowed to walk free when they were meant to be considered for deportation.
They include three murderers and nine rapists, Home Office figures show.
Charles Clarke said he could not say "hand on heart" that they would all be tracked down but said he did not think it was a "resigning matter".
The Lib Dems accused ministers of incompetence. The Tories are demanding Mr Clarke answer to Parliament.
Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis accused Mr Clarke of trying to "smuggle out" the news rather than face MPs' questions.
"At the end of the day it's not good enough to blame officials, frankly it is a issue which affects the safety of the British public," argued Mr Davis.
Home Office officials have been aware of this for quite some time...I have!
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6:39 pm