PRESS RELEASE

A new research report, ‘Desistance After Imprisonment Abroad’, has been published by Prisoners Abroad and the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge.

Authored by Drs Caroline Lanskey and Angelique Mulholland, the collaborative project – which is the largest UK study of its kind – set out to explore the resettlement and desistance experiences of British citizens who were deported to the UK at the end of a foreign prison sentence.

Dr Caroline Lanskey says:

"The research sheds important light on the challenges of establishing a life in the UK after a period of imprisonment overseas.  The geographical and cultural changes that British citizens experienced following deportation significantly affected their (re)settlement and desistance journeys, for example, close families often lived in the country of their  imprisonment and so people had to navigate a new life in Britain with limited support networks."

Dr Angelique Mulholland adds:

"This group of British citizens showed resilience in the face of often extreme adversity both during imprisonment and after deportation to Britain. This is in part due to the structural barriers and stigma they experienced and as a consequence the practical and emotional support they received from Prisoners Abroad was a lifeline. The study extends current knowledge of British citizens’ (re)settlement and desistance journeys and contributes to broader social and moral debates on the  deportation of foreign national prisoners to their country of citizenship."

The study draws on the experiences of 151 participants and covers several main themes, including: what it means to return to the UK; the enduring impact of an overseas imprisonment and the stigma that remains after release; how an individual’s citizenship status impacted their experience of prison and their sense of belonging post-release; and the power of human relationships – including the support of Prisoners Abroad.

Charlotte Flinterman, Director of Resettlement at Prisoners Abroad, says:

"What is particularly striking is the extent to which experiences in prison continued to shape people's lives long after release. The effects were visible in their mental and physical health, their relationships, their confidence, their sense of trust and their ability to navigate everyday life. This finding is important because it challenges any assumption that practical support alone is sufficient.

Helping somebody access accommodation, a bank account or a mobile phone remains essential. Indeed, the research confirms the importance of precisely this kind of support. But rehabilitation from imprisonment overseas is often a much longer journey. The findings underline the importance of trauma-informed practice and suggest that some individuals may benefit from support and intervention long after the immediate resettlement period has ended.

As a charity, this is an area where we will continue to reflect on what more can be done, both directly through our (re)settlement support and through partnerships with specialist organisations, and is why we are thrilled to have recently announced a new two-year mental health project to offer trauma-informed 1:1 and group counselling for people returning to the UK after imprisonment overseas, delivered by a qualified counsellor consultant."

One of the key aims in undertaking this research project was to strengthen the evidence base for the development of policy and practice related to supporting British citizens formerly imprisoned abroad. The study found, however, that for many participants "desistance from crime" was not identified as a central issue in their lives. For some, this was because their imprisonment did not form part of an ongoing pattern of offending. Others felt they had moved into a different stage of life defined by family responsibilities, health needs or ageing. This is an important reminder that the experiences of people imprisoned overseas do not always align with well-established academic or policy concepts that apply to people in UK prisons.

Christopher Stacey, Chief Executive of Prisoners Abroad, says:

“While the report contains important lessons for Prisoners Abroad as an organisation, its significance extends beyond the charity. The findings raise wider questions about deportation practices, access to legal advice, prison transfers, rehabilitation programmes and consular support.

The report also highlights the continuing impact of social inequalities that shape people's opportunities after release. Factors such as class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and health frequently intersect with the challenges associated with imprisonment overseas.

The report therefore provides a platform for wider conversations with government, consular services, criminal justice agencies, academics and civil society organisations about the experiences of British citizens imprisoned abroad and those deported to the UK at the end of their sentence.”

We are grateful to the Dawes Trust who funded this project. Thank you to the participants who shared their experiences and made the study possible; their honesty and generosity have created knowledge that will help shape services, policy and practice for years to come.

Learn more about the project

Download the research paper  

Our reflections on the findings