Largest UK study sheds light on the experiences of British citizens after imprisonment abroad

The report published today, titled ‘Desistance After Imprisonment Abroad’, is the result of collaborative research by Drs Caroline Lanskey and Angelique Mulholland, with the human rights and welfare charity, Prisoners Abroad. 

In the largest UK study of its kind, the researchers 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.

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. The charity provides humanitarian aid, advice and emotional support to people affected by overseas imprisonment, during their incarceration and when they return to the UK. They also support family and friends of those imprisoned.

“The research sheds important light on the challenges of establishing a life in the UK after a period of imprisonment overseas,” says Dr Caroline Lanskey, Director of the Justice and Society Research Centre at the Institute of Criminology. “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.” 

“This group of British citizens showed resilience in the face of often extreme adversity both during imprisonment and after deportation to Britain,” says Dr Angelique Mulholland, who was a research assistant on the project. “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.”

One of the aims of the project was to strengthen the evidence base for the development of desistance policies 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. The report provides 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.

“While the report contains important lessons for Prisoners Abroad as an organisation, its significance extends beyond the charity,” says Christopher Stacey, Chief Executive of Prisoners Abroad. “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.”

The team are grateful to the Dawes Trust who funded this project and to the participants who shared their experiences and made the study possible.

Read the full report

Find out more and read the full report on the Prisoners Abroad website.

‘Seasons of Freedom’ exhibition

While conducting the research, Lanskey and Mulholland observed how for many of the participants recounting their experiences in the interviews, it was the first opportunity they had had to reflect on their journeys. 

“We found that, because of the stigma that comes with having been in prison, many of them had just not talked about their imprisonment abroad,” explains Mulholland. “They carried on rebuilding their lives in Britain and they'd kept this traumatic experience completely to themselves.

“A sizable number of participants really wanted to reflect more on their journeys. Many had also experienced traumatic experiences in prison abroad, and this was something that was painful when relived in the space of the interview.”

The research team decided to invite participants to a series of art workshops. Led by a trained arts facilitator, the participants could experiment with different forms and mediums and begin portraying, on their own terms, some of the most memorable moments since their arrival in Britain. Over a period of a few months, the participants worked on their art pieces with support from the arts facilitator and the research team. 

In March 2026, the artists presented their work in ‘Seasons of Freedom’, a powerful exhibition held at the Institute of Criminology as part of the Cambridge Festival.

The exhibition offered a series of interactive, multisensory works, including poetry, spoken word, soft installations, textiles and a zine. Each one was shaped by individuals who were deported to the UK following their release, capturing the emotional and practical realities of rebuilding a life in a country that can feel both familiar and foreign.

The artworks traced the memorable moments and turning points that have defined the artists’ journeys: the shock of return, the weight of stigma, the ache of separation, and the slow, often fragile emergence of hope. Through personal reflection and creative expression, contributors explored themes of pain, alienation, resilience, identity and renewal, inviting audiences to engage with experiences that are rarely seen or understood.

“One of the most salient critiques of academic research is that it’s an extractive process,” says Mulholland. “As researchers, we do our interviews, take people’s life stories, and we write them up, but that sort of the power is very much in the researcher's domain. So, a really important response that takes these critiques seriously, is to put the research participants at the centre of the research and give them the opportunity to shape their own narratives. 

“Art is a powerful medium in which to do this. There’s a lot of research showing that art can support people to work through the trauma of imprisonment and ‘Seasons of Freedom’ captures this process.”

By centring the voices and creative practices of former prisoners, ‘Seasons of Freedom’ aims to deepen public understanding, spark dialogue, and highlight the importance of support, dignity and community in the process of rebuilding a life.

‘Seasons of Freedom’ will be exhibited at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, from January to June 2027.

Find out more

Read a blog post by Sarah Phillips, a participatory arts producer who facilitated the workshops, on the Prisoners Abroad website.

Find out more about the team behind 'Desistance after Imprisonment Abroad' and get in touch.