UK deportees slow down
Published:Saturday | September 1, 2018 | 12:00 AMCorey Robinson
There has been a sharp reduction in the number of persons deported to Jamaica from the United Kingdom (UK) since 2015.
The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has reported that 63 persons have been deported to the island from the UK up to July this year. This compares to 108 persons deported for the corresponding period in 2017.
Last year, a total of 148 persons were deported from the UK, while 278 persons were deported in 2016. In 2015, three hundred and ten persons were deported from the UK.
So far this year, only four persons have been deported for murder, while nine were sent back to the island for drug-related violations. One person was caught on firearm infringements.
According to the NIB, 32 persons were sent back to Jamaica for overstaying and illegal entry/re-entry, while eight were nabbed for stolen property. Three were sent back to Jamaica in relation to assault and battery or wounding charges; and two on sexual offence cases.
None of the deportees this year have been sent back to Jamaica because of manslaughter charges, nor were there any deportation related to kidnapping or money-laundering cases.
DEPORTATION FIGURES
Last year, 66 persons were deported for illegal entry into the UK, five for murder offences, 12 for stolen property and robbery charges, seven for shooting, and 36 for drug-related offences.
The reduction in the number of UK deportees so far this year is in keeping with the numbers reported in the 2017 Economic and Social Survey of Jamaica (ESSJ), released by the Planning Institute of Jamaica last month, reporting an overall decrease in the number of deportees to Jamaica.
According to the ESSJ, 1,393 persons were deported to Jamaica last year. This was 364, or almost 21 per cent, fewer than 2016 when 1,757 deportees hit the nation's ports.
Just under 50 per cent of the Jamaicans deported from the United States, Canada and the UK last year were found guilty of overstaying or illegal entry/re-entry into the country.