Bangladeshi and UK Prisons: A Closer Look

The latest figures reveal a persistent and notable presence of foreign nationals within the UK's prison system, alongside intricate patterns in arrest rates across various ethnic groups. As of June 30, 2024, there were 10,435 foreign nationals in His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) custody in England and Wales. This figure represents approximately 12% of the total prison population, underscoring the diverse backgrounds of individuals behind bars, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.

The foreign national offender population is heavily concentrated among a few key nationalities. As of June 2024, the most common non-British nationalities in UK prisons were:

 * Albanian: Comprising around 12% of the foreign national prison population (approximately 1,250 inmates based on the total foreign national figure).

Polish: Representing about 9% (around 940 inmates).

Romanian: Accounting for 7% (around 730 inmates).

Irish: Making up 6% (around 625 inmates).

Jamaican: Constituting 4% (around 417 inmates).

Beyond these top five, other nationalities contributing significantly to the foreign national prison population include Lithuanian, Pakistani, Somalian, Portuguese, and Indian. Recent data from the first quarter of 2024 (January to March) shows that Albanian (530), Romanian (387), Polish (297), Irish (158), and Lithuanian (115) individuals also accounted for a substantial 44% of all foreign national first receptions into prison during that period.

Focus on South Asian Nationalities: Prisoners and Arrest Rates

While exact updated prison figures for Bangladeshi and Indian nationals are not as frequently broken out in the most recent detailed tables, earlier data from late 2023 showed that there were 306 Pakistani nationals in UK prisons. As of early 2024, broader data indicated around 313 Pakistani and 271 Indian nationals in UK prisons, providing a more current snapshot.

Beyond incarceration, arrest rates offer a broader perspective on interactions with the criminal justice system. For the year ending March 31, 2023, arrest rates per 1,000 people in England and Wales for specific ethnic groups included:

Bangladeshi: 8.7 per 1,000 (totaling 5,581 arrests).

Pakistani: 11.3 per 1,000.

Indian: 3.1 per 1,000.

These figures contrast with an overall average arrest rate of 11.2 per 1,000 for all ethnic groups in England and Wales during the same period.

Broader Ethnic Demographics in UK Prisons

While foreign national figures provide one lens, the overall ethnic composition of the UK prison population highlights broader disparities. As of March 31, 2024, the majority of prisoners in England and Wales were White (71.8%). However, certain ethnic minority groups are over-represented relative to their proportion in the general population. For instance:

Black or Black British individuals constituted 12.1% of the prison population, despite making up approximately 4.0% of the general population.

Asian or Asian British individuals accounted for 8.0% of the prison population, compared to 9.3% of the general population.

These statistics underscore the complex, multi-faceted nature of the UK's criminal justice landscape, influenced by factors including nationality, ethnicity, and socio-economic considerations. The government continues to prioritize the deportation of foreign national offenders, with efforts ongoing to streamline processes and foster international transfer agreements to manage prison capacity and reduce costs. The ongoing collection and analysis of these demographic data remain vital for informing policy and addressing complexities within the UK's justice system.