UK ‘bribes’ foreign prisoners to leave

LONDON – Britain’s plan to pay foreign prisoners nearly $5 000 to leave the country in order to alleviate overcrowding was derided as bribery by opposition lawmakers and the press yesterday.

Home secretary John Reid on Monday announced a 12-month pilot scheme where foreign prisoners from outside the 28-member European Economic Area would be offered as much as £2 000 for training and accommodation to return home. Opposition Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Nick Clegg said the plan was basically a “bribe”.”What has the home secretary been doing for the last six months if his efforts to solve the foreign prisoner crisis now amount to a vague pledge to sort the problem out by next spring, and an even vaguer plan to bribe them to go back home,” he asked.The right-of-centre Daily Mail newspaper used similar language in its report, written under a headline: “Reid’s £2 500 bribe for foreign prisoners who agree to go home”.There are nearly 11 000 foreign prisoners in Britain’s jails.Nampa-AFPOpposition Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Nick Clegg said the plan was basically a “bribe”.”What has the home secretary been doing for the last six months if his efforts to solve the foreign prisoner crisis now amount to a vague pledge to sort the problem out by next spring, and an even vaguer plan to bribe them to go back home,” he asked.The right-of-centre Daily Mail newspaper used similar language in its report, written under a headline: “Reid’s £2 500 bribe for foreign prisoners who agree to go home”.There are nearly 11 000 foreign prisoners in Britain’s jails.Nampa-AFP