By Giuseppe De Santis
Recently, mainstream media reported three stories that underscore the pressing need for the UK to exit the European Convention on Human Rights, given its significant impact on our nation.
The first story is about a Polish drug dealer who, despite being convicted, cannot be deported because he does not speak Polish and has no family in Poland. This case raises questions about the effectiveness of our deportation policies and the rights of individuals who have spent most of their lives in the UK.
Nikodem Lopata, a 22-year-old from Crewe, Cheshire, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison when he was 19. The Home Office informed him that he would be deported to his country of birth. However, after his release, Lopata, who moved to Britain at the age of four, appealed the decision based on human rights laws.
He mentioned that he could not speak Polish and had no close family or friends living in Poland anymore, which would make ‘re-integrating’ very difficult after having lived almost his entire life in the UK.
The Polish national was arrested at the age of 16 for possession of cocaine with the intent to supply, resulting in a community order. Two years later, Lopata was convicted of motor vehicle offences and possession of cannabis, which led to six points being added to his license and a fine. Three months later, he was caught with over £1,000 worth of drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine, while carrying a large ‘Rambo’ knife.
The second story is about a Nigerian armed robber and drug dealer who has been allowed to stay in the UK because he would be considered ‘possessed’ in his home country.
The psychotic criminal, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to prison for armed robbery at a brothel in 2011. Seven years later, he was jailed again for supplying crack cocaine. Although the Home Office issued a deportation order in 2014, he remains in Britain a decade later.
The convict, who “hears voices all the time,” is back in the community after successfully appealing his deportation on human rights grounds. A judge ruled against deporting the drug addict because he is currently receiving treatment and would not have access to the same level of care in Nigeria.
To add insult to injury, a report prepared by Amnesty International for this appeal stated: “It is our assessment that on return to Nigeria, the appellant is likely to encounter widespread attitudes that confirm and amplify his belief in demonic forces and witchcraft as being at the root of his problems. He is, moreover, at substantial risk of being identified as suffering from demonic forces and faces a resultant risk of being targeted as a result.”
The last story involves a Jamaican man who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a fatal shooting. He has managed to avoid deportation due to human rights laws. This criminal was one of five gang members responsible for the death of an innocent man during an unprovoked attack outside a nightclub in south London. Although he was publicly named when he was sentenced in July 2012, immigration judges have granted him anonymity, so his name cannot be revealed.
The individual can only be identified as AR. He argued that his safety would be at risk if he were deported to Jamaica and that his right to private and family life could be compromised under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Additionally, the name of the nightclub shooting victim cannot be disclosed, as doing so may reveal the identity of the Jamaican man.
These stories highlight the absurdity of our immigration system. It has become clear that we need to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. Unfortunately, none of the three main political parties are willing to take action on this issue, which is why the British Democrats emerge as the only viable option for our country.
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