28 April 2006
Pressure was increasing on Home Secretary Charles Clarke as more details emerged of the 1,023 foreign criminals who were released without being considered for deportation.
It was revealed on April 26, as Clarke came under fire in the Commons over the blunder, that he twice offered his resignation to Prime Minister Tony Blair after the scope of the problem became clear.
Among the 1,023 released on to the streets were three murderers, nine rapists and five paedophiles. Another seven had served time for other sex offences, 57 for violent offences and two for manslaughter.
Clarke said in his Commons statement that the failure of systems in the Home Office was 'deeply regrettable'.
He added: 'It's clear that the increasing number of cases being referred for consideration led to the process falling down.'
But it emerged that 288 of the offenders had been released after the National Audit Office warned the government last July of the problem.
Clarke said that of these, 83 were now being considered for deportation, a further 53 had completed the process and 14 had been expelled.
But shadow home secretary David Davis hardened his earlier stance by calling on the home secretary to go. He accused Clarke of 'culpable failure to protect the safety of the public' and said his position was 'untenable'.
PFapr2006
