London, Oct 28 (IANS): Thousands of foreign criminals in Britain have been set free from their detention centres simply because there was no prospect of them being deported within "a reasonable time".

Around 4,000 foreign criminals including dozens of former prisoners convicted of offences such as murder, rape and sex crimes against children, who should have been deported, are on the streets of Britain, the Daily Mail reported citing an official report.

Be it human rights claims or red tape, they are providing them their freedom while they fight deportation orders.

According to a report by John Vine, chief inspector of the UK Border Agency, it has been revealed that there were 3,775 criminals in May this year who had been released from immigration detention centres because there was "no prospect of them being deported in a reasonable time".

Of these, 3,259 had served sentences for low-level offences, another 429 for "more serious" crimes, and 87 for the most serious offences - including murder, rape and paedophilia.

Some of these criminals include those who cannot be deported as it is thought unsafe to send them back to their home countries, or because of difficulties in getting hold of a passport so they can be put on a plane.