Justice Secretary Agrees To Vietnam Prisoner Deal

Vietnamese nationals serving prison sentences in the UK will now be able to return home to complete their sentence following an agreement signed by Justice Secretary Jack Straw today.

Of the 460 Vietnamese offenders currently being held in Britain, choosing to serve their sentence in Vietnam means they will be closer to family and friends, and benefit from rehabilitation programmes better suited to their circumstances and the country into which they will eventually be released.

Jack Straw has been holdings meeting with the Prime Minister and senior members of the Cabinet in Vietnam.

Speaking in Hanoi today, Jack Straw said: "Both formally and informally we are working together to tackle some of the new and increasingly complex crimes we face. This agreement is just one practical demonstration of the growing co-operation and understanding between Vietnam and the United Kingdom in justice matters.

"Transferring prisoners to their home countries ensures individuals are punished for their crimes, but their rehabilitation is right for the community they will return to."

The terms of the agreement are voluntary, with each case requiring the agreement of both the UK and Vietnam Governments. There is a reciprocal arrangement for British nationals imprisoned in Vietnam. In addition, any British prisoner whose death sentence has recently been commuted to life imprisonment will be able to return to the UK.

Foreign offenders in the UK who receive a custodial sentence for a serious crime will be automatically considered for deportation on completion of their sentence due to the introduction of the UK Borders Act. The agreement with Vietnam signed today, allows offenders to return sooner.

(JM)