- More than 2,000 serious offenders have been arrested after arriving unhindered
- Around 827 foreign killers, 714 rapists and 482 child abusers from 2016 to 2018
- Some non-EU national arrived without having to declare previous convictions
- UK gets information on ad hoc basis and checks against ‘watchlist’ of criminals
- Alice Gross was killed by Latvian man who moved under freedom of movement
Foreign killers, rapists and paedophiles are entering Britain without any checks.
Over the past three years more than 2,000 serious offenders have been arrested after arriving here unhindered – a rate of two a day.
Obtained under freedom of information laws, the official figures cover only those who have got into trouble with the UK authorities.
They reveal that 827 foreign killers, 714 rapists and 482 child abusers were caught from 2016 to 2018. Neither burglars nor robbers were included.
The suspects’ foreign convictions emerged after the officers who arrested them requested police records from their home countries. Some arrived under EU freedom of movement rules.
Some of the non-EU nationals would have taken advantage of a visa waiver programme from a ‘trusted’ country such as the US or Canada – meaning they did not have to declare previous convictions. Even if they had to apply for a visa they would have been able to stay silent about their crimes.
While a system has been established by the EU for sharing details of criminal convictions, it can only be used once a convict has entered the UK and been arrested or charged.
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