GRAHAM WILKINSON National Offender Management Service TRANSFER OF

GRAHAM WILKINSON National Offender Management Service TRANSFER OF SENTENCED PERSON COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 909: A UK PERSPECTIVE

OVERVIEW OF THE PRISON POPULATION

Trends in Prison Population

TEN YEAR TREND

Breakdown of FNO Population

FNO POPULATION CUSTODY TYPE

TRANSFER UNDER THE FRAMEWORK DECISION

UK Policy • Government policy is that foreign national prisoners who have no right to remain in the UK should wherever possible serve their sentences in their own country. • Prisoner consent should not be necessary in all cases. • UK will negotiation new no consent prisoner transfer agreements where possible

LEGAL FRAMEWORK • Implementation via existing prisoner transfer legislation • Legislation provides for decisions to be made by Ministers. • Courts have no active role in the consideration of transfers.

Central Authority • The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has been designated as the Central Authority for England Wales. Separate authorities have been designated for Scotland for Northern Ireland. • The Cross Border Transfer Section have delegated authority to determine application for transfer both into and out of England Wales on behalf of the Secretary of State. • The Cross Border transfer Section will also be responsible for making the arrangements for the physical transfer of the prisoner. • Escorts will be provided by Prison Officers from a dedicated Unit based at Her Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth in South London

How will the UK use the Framework Decision • All EU Nationals who receive sentences of imprisonment will be considered for transfer under the Framework Decision. • Eligible prisoners are identified centrally using the Prison Service data base. • Prisoners serving sentence of 12 months or more and who have more than 6 months left serve are referred to the UK Border Agency for Deportation action. • There is no formal right of appeal against a decision to seek transfer but prisoners can request a judicial review.

Who will be eligible for transfer • UK intends to concentrate on transferring those prisoners who have no right to remain the UK and who are therefore subject to deportation at the end of their sentences. • All prisoners identified as meeting the basic criteria for transfer will be referred to the United Kingdom Border Agency for deportation action. • Only once a Deportation Order is served will consideration be given to issuing a Certificate under the Framework Decision

Consideration Process • Starting point will be that it will normally be in the best interests of a prisoners social rehabilitation to serve his sentence in his own country. • Prisoners are notified in writing of our intention to seek transfer. • Prisoners have 28 days in which to make written representations against transfer • If representations are not consider sufficient to prevent transfer a Certificate will be issued and the prisoner will be notified.

Difficulties Associated with transfer • Obtaining a prisoner informed consent – What information does a prisoner have available to him? – What will be the impact of the application of the release arrangements of the executing State? – How weight should the Issuing State give to prison conditions in the Executing State?

Questions for Discussion How do Member States envisage using the Framework Decision? – As a matter of routine or on a case by case basis? How should Member States determine whether or not transfer supports the social rehabilitation of the prisoner? What information should be provided to the prisoner to enable him to give his informed opinion?