Eight Gang Members Deported As Met Operation Bites

An innovative operation that seeks to forcibly expel dangerous foreign nationals from the UK has led to eight major gang members being deported back to their countries of origin since its launch.

Operation Bite, a joint initiative pioneered by the Metropolitan Police Service and the UK Border Agency (UKBA), is now to be expanded across other UK police force areas at the request of the government, due to its current 100% success rate and potential long-term impact. (As of October 2008, anyone deported or removed from the UK is not able to lawfully return for 10 years).

Another nine men are currently in immigration detention awaiting removal from the UK, with the newly expanded unit expecting to detain an average of two individuals per week over the coming year. Its list of targets includes dozens more gang members, as well as other 'high harm' offenders such as drug dealers, predatory sex offenders , firearms suppliers and those involved in kidnap and 'threat to life' cases.

Superintendent Supt Stuart Dark, MPS lead for Operation Bite, said: "Operation Bite shows how much effective joint working and proactive use of existing laws can achieve. While the UK clearly benefits from immigration and the diversity this brings, we target the small minority of individuals who persist in abusing their privilege of residence and whose violent and prolific offending disproportionately harms their local community and puts wider society in fear.

"It is a common misconception that once granted, immigration status can't be taken away, whether that's a temporary visa or 'indefinite' leave to remain - in fact all are conditional on behaviour and can be reviewed and indeed revoked at any time."

(GK)