Taiwan-UK Prisoner Transfer Cooperation Reaches Five Transfers

Within the span of few days, on 29 September and 5 October 2026, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) successfully completed two prisoner transfers to the United Kingdom, with the inmates being escorted by officials from HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to continue serving their sentences in the UK. These were the fourth and fifth prisoner transfers completed under the Taiwan-UK Prisoner Transfer Arrangement, bringing the total number of transfers between Taiwan and the United Kingdom to five. The successful completion of these two transfers reflects the continuous strengthening of judicial cooperation between Taiwan and the United Kingdom and the growing maturity and stability of the inter-agency cooperation mechanism.

Working closely with HMPPS and the British Office Taipei, the MOJ facilitated the return of the two British inmates to continue serving their remaining sentences in their home country. The transfers enable the inmates to remain closer to their families while continuing to serve their remaining sentences and supporting their successful social reintegration, reflecting the humanitarian objectives of the prisoner transfer mechanism while ensuring that justice continues to be served.

To ensure the smooth implementation of both transfers, the MOJ maintained close communication and exchanged views with its UK counterparts and relevant authorities. A number of inter-agency coordination meetings were held, bringing together representatives from HMPPS, the British Office Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Immigration Agency, the Investigation Bureau of the MOJ, the Taoyuan City Field Division, the Agency of Corrections, Taipei Prison, and the Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office. Through close coordination on transfer schedules, escort arrangements, document verification, and operational procedures, both transfers were completed smoothly on 29 September and 5 October in accordance with the applicable legal requirements and procedures.

Since the Taiwan-UK Prisoner Transfer Arrangement entered into force, the two sides have established a stable and efficient framework for cooperation. Close coordination throughout the request, review, operational planning and transfer process has enabled prisoner transfers to be carried out smoothly and efficiently, demonstrating the mutual trust and close partnership between Taiwan and the United Kingdom in international judicial cooperation.