The failure to deport a convicted child sex offender due to supposed risks to his human rights has been branded “sick” by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp as he accused judges of “protecting paedophiles instead of children.”
Philp took to social media to voice his outrage warning the decision to not deport a Zimbabwean national convicted of child sex offences was “sick”.
He said: “Immigration judges have twisted the meaning of ECHR Articles to protect paedophiles instead of children.
“This must end. We need to be able to remove dangerous foreign criminals & those here illegally. Radical change to human rights law is needed.”
Identified only as RC, the sex offender was spared deportation after an immigration judge ruled that sending him back to his home country would violate his human rights.
The tribunal, presided over by Judge Sarah Pinder, found that the individual, who is autistic, deaf, and openly gay, would face “substantial hostility” in Zimbabwe, where authorities have been accused of persecuting LGBTQ+ individuals.
Despite the Home Office’s efforts to remove him, the judge ruled that deportation would breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
The Conservative MP’s remarks have added fuel to the growing demands for tougher immigration policies.
The controversy, first reported by The Telegraph, comes amid mounting frustration over the UK’s ability to remove foreign criminals and illegal migrants, with repeated legal challenges delaying or blocking deportations.
Laura Kuenssberg quizzes Robert Jenrick over ECHR
Speaking in January, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that the government is making progress on removals, pointing to record numbers of deportations in recent months.
He said: “I’m really pleased that the figures for the last six months show record numbers of people being returned, 16,400 people who should not be in the UK.”
However, critics argue that high-profile cases like this undermine public trust in the system.
RC, who has spent over five years in prison for child sex offences, remains in the UK following the tribunal’s ruling.
The ruling is expected to fuel further debate on human rights law and judicial interpretations of the ECHR, with calls for urgent reform growing louder within Conservative ranks.
A Home Office spokesman told Express.co.uk: “We are rigorously fighting this case.
“Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets, including removal from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring there are no barriers to deport foreign criminals, as it is in the public interest for these people to be removed swiftly.”
