A politician has discovered 88 foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes including murder and rape could not be deported on human rights grounds.

The Home Office released the figures for last year in response to a written parliamentary question from Witham MP Priti Patel.

Ms Patel said: “The public will be appalled to see that dangerous foreign criminals are able to hide behind human rights excuses to remain in Britain.

“The Government urgently needs to free Britain from Europe’s human rights laws so these dangerous foreigners can be removed from our country.”

Of the 88 offenders, two were convicted of murder, seven of rape, 66 of violent offences and 13 or other sexual offences.